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CAYUGA COUNTY 



Historical Society 



COLLECTIONS 



Number Four. 



COLLECTIONS 



OF 



CAYUGA COUNTY 



Historical Society. 



AUBURN, N. Y. 



Number Four. 



1887. 






TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY COPIES. 



Gift 



Knapt, Peck & Thomson, 

r.ook. Job and Commercial Printers, 

AUDURN, N. Y. 



NINTH 



ANNUAL ADDRESS 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY 



IN REGARD TO THE DEATH OF 

r The Rev. Charles Hawley, D.D, 

WITH 



MEMORIAL ADDRESS 

AND APPENDIX. 



CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS 

AND 

OFFICERS AND MEMBERS. 



AUBURN, N. Y. 

1887. 



OFFICERS. 



President^ 

WILLIAM H. SEWARD. 

Vice- President, 

BENJAMIN B. SNOW. 

Corresponding Secretary, 

FRANK W. RICHARDSON. 

Recording Secretary, 

DAVID M. DUNNING. 

Treasurer, 
NELSON B. ELDRED. 

Librarian, 
JOHN H. OSBORNE. 



TRUSTEES. 

John H. Osborne, Nelson B. Eldred, 

Lewis E. Lvon, Frederick I. Allen, 

D. Warken Adams, Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., 

*WiLLiAM G. Wise, Charles M. Baker, 

David M. Dunning, Frank W. Richardson, 

James Seymour, Jr., John W. O'Brien, 
Willis J. Beecher, D. D. 



COMMITTEES. 

On Papers. — Lewis E. I>yoni, '.Willis J. Beecher, Dennis R. 

Alward, Charles M. Baker,' 'Frank W. Richardson. 
Executive. — John H. Osborne, C. Wheeler, Jr., Willis J. 

Beecher. 
Finance. — D. M. Dunning, '''William G. Wise, John W. 

O'Brien. 
Membership. — James Seymour, Jr., Nelson B. Eldred, 

Frederick I. Allen. 
Room.— H. D. Woodruff, D. W. Adams, W. H. Meaker. 

* Deceased. 



ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 



The Cayuga County Histoi'ical Society first came into exist- 
ence in March, 18J6, and this is the ninth of its anniversary 
meetings. It was mainly through the active efforts of our late 
and much beloved President, Rev. Chas. Ilawley, D. D., that 
the association was formed. I have frequently heard him say 
that he had for many years yireviously thought of the matter 
of such an organization and alwavs with a strong desire to do 
something to recall and jjreserve the local and biographical 
history of this vicinity. 

Dr. Hawlcy's work in this direction, as in many others, sur- 
vives him; and, it is now earnestly to be hoped that the labor 
so intelligently begun and faithfully carried forward by him, 
may be continued and its sphere enlarged, although the master 
hand that organized it has been taken nway. That this should 
certainly be done, not only to perpetuate the good work of a 
good man, and thereby honor his memory, but also for the 
more weighty reason that the objects of the society are in all 
respects meritorious, embracing as they do, elements of educa- 
tion, and tending to public improvement in the community to 
which we belong, whose progress and development is a matter 
of personal interest to us all. 

Our meeting to-night is the first one of our annual gatherings 
at which we are not to be welcomed, entertained and instructed 
by the founder of our association. It is with no ordinary de- 
gree of sadness, that we are called to reflect upon the fact that 
we shall meet him no more in these pleasant social reunions, 
where his genial presence has upon so many previous occasions 
made our meetings especially bright and attractive. But, Dr. 
Hawley's labors in behalf of the Cayuga County Historical 



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S()ci'-''ty arc not without results, and tlicii' strong iiillueuces will 
remain t<) stimulate the assoeiation to renewed v'y^or and 
energy. 

Tt niay not be inapi)fo[)riatc for us at this time to n^eall 
somewhat of the doings ol" our society, its histoiy, its work, and 
to note especially those who have contributed to its archives. 

The preliminary meeting for its first organization was held 
March, 22, 1876, in the directors' room of the Auburn Savings 
Bank, and adjourned meetings to perfect the work were con- 
tinued at the same place April 5th and loth, following. 

At these meetings some thirty or forty of our citizens par- 
ticipated, among whom I now recall, Charle? Hawley, Charles 
r. Wood. Miles Perry, ]\[ichael S. Myers, P Hamilton Myers, 
Christopher Morgan, William Allen, Dr. D. H. Aitnsti'ong, 
Joseph Osborne, J. Lewis Grant, Col. T. J. Kennedy, all of 
whom have since passed away ; and others, still living, some 
of whose names remain on the rolls of this society as active 
members; among these I remember. Dr. S. Willard, Rev. S. 
W. Boardman, Prof. S. M. Hopkins, Maj. W. C. Beardsley, 
Dr. Theo. Dimon, Joseph D. Otis, D. R Alward, B. B Snow, 
D. W. Adams, E. D. Jackson, Judge B. F. Hall, Henry Rich- 
ardson, Dr. James D. Button, Dr. Blanchard Fosgate, John H. 
Osborne, Gen. John S. Clark, Maj. Lewis E. Carpenter, Byron 
C. Smith and C. M. Baker. 

At one of these preliminary meetings a member, by way of 
breaking the historical ice I presume, and of giving us an illus- 
tration of what might be done in the future, read a very inter- 
esting and exciting narrative, or history of the career of Cai)t. 
Edward Wheeler, one of the prominent early settlers in this 
vicinty. The sketch, we were told, was written bv his grand- 
son Edward Wheeler, and upon further inquiry as to who the 
author was, it was ascertained that he was at that time acting 
as janitor of the bank building. Whether he had caught the 
historical infection from seeing our preliminary meetings go on 
in his building, or whether his sketch was written without that 
powei'ful incentive at some earlier date, 1 do not Know, but at 



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all events, when it was learned that the author was at that very 
moment sweeping out the next room, he was forthwith sent 
for, brought before our august assembly, and congratulated by 
each one of the thirty-five members present, upon the marked 
success of his literary effort. Mr. Wheeler was evidently a 
very modest man, and while he may have been entirely at his 
ease in the preparation of his paper, he was not so when called 
in and appeared utterly dumbfounded by its enthusiastic 
reception, and overwhelmed by the unexpected congratulations 
wliich were tendered to him on that occasion. 

The Historical Society was first organized upon what was 
then supposed to be the most popular basis for such an asso- 
ciation, viz , a very large membership with a very small annual 
due or membership fee of $1.00 It was at the time expected 
that several hundred persons would join it, and to give it 
greater {M)pularity it was to have one vice-president for each 
ward in the city and one for each town in the county. 

The fir.st ofiicors were : 

President — Dr. Charles Ilawley. 

Corresponding Secretary — B. B. Snow. 

Eecording Secretary — C. M. Baker. 

Treasurer — E. D. Jackson. 

Librarian — D. R. Alward. 

With B. F. Hall, W. C. Beardslcy, T. J. Kennedy, D. R 
Alward, Joseph Osborne and John Underwood vice-presidents 
for Aul)urn, and twenty-three others, headed l)y D. W. 
Adams, for like olficers rejiresenting the several towns of the 
county. 

The first executive committee, or managers, were : S. Willard, 
C. P. Wood, J. D. Button, W. C. Beardsley, B. Fosgate, B. F. 
Hall and W. H. Seward. 

This plan while perhaps offering the inducement of an organ- 
ization of broader scope and greater i^opularity than some 
others, did not meet with the general encouragement which was 
expected for it, and as one of the gentlemen from the country 
who at first thought he would join and afterwards concluded 



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lie would not, at the time faeetiously remarked, he "guessed a 
dollar a year was a little too much to pay to kce|) track of our 
ancestors, when almost any man could read their names in the 
family bible, and their history upon tlieir tombstones, for 
nothing." 

It soon became apparent that if the society was to continue 
to exist at all it must rely mainly npon a limited mumbei" of 
our own citizens, who were especially interested in such work, 
and who would be willing to devote the necessary time and 
means to carry it forwai'd. 

The next ste[) was that of reorgam'zation, on the basis of a 
few members, who would agree to guarantee an annual fee of 
$10.00 each for at least three years. Thirty-five members 
entered into such a written agreement at once, and this gave 
the society its first real start in the work it had set out to do. 
I regret that I am unable now to give the names of the patriotic 
thirty five who came to the rescue, and thereby saved the organ- 
ization from abandonment, but the recoi'd seems to have been 
mi.shiid or lost. Later on, (in 1881) the annual fee for member- 
ship was reduced from $10.00 to $r).00 where it now stands. 

'^riie actual re-organization took place January 27th, 1877. 
The society at that time moved into the rooms which we now 
occupy and these were soon after furnished and put in order 
for our permanent occupancy. 

New members now rapidly joined the association and the 
original thirty-five were before the next annual meeting in- 
creased in number by associates to over sixty. 

The first ofiicers under the new organization, were : 

President — Charles Hawlc}'. 
Vice President — W. 11. Seward. 
Corresponding Secretary — B. B. Snow. 
Pecording Secretary- — C. M. Baker. 
Treasurer — D. M.' Dunning. 
Librarian — D. R Alward. 



And the first Board of Trustees, were : Blanelinrd Fosgate, 
J. Lewis Grant, David M. Dunning, John H. Osborne, B. B. 
Snow, Lewis E. Carpenter and James D. Button. 

At the annual meeting in February, 1878, Dr. Hawley deliv- 
ered the first of a series of most excellent addresses before the 
society. This one especially was one of his best efforts, and 
was listened to by the largest audience ever assembled in these 
rooms. It produced a most favorable impression in behalf of 
our association. 

This address formed the basis of the first publication made 
by the society, and was largelv distributed and generally called 
for by most of the similar societies throughout the United 
States. 

I shall take the liberty of quoting a few passages from this 
address, which most clearly and forcibly set forth the object 
v;hich the association had in view at that time. He said : 

" The object of the society was to collect and preserve the 
memorials of our local history while the incidents of early set- 
tlements within the country were still fresh in memory or tra- 
dition ; to gather a historical library and cabinet ; and as an 
immediate duty, to arrange for appropriate celebrations within 
the county, of the one hundredth anniversary of our national 
independence," then near at hand. 

" Our work for the future is plainly before us. It is to com 
plete what has been so well begun ; and in doing this we invoke 
the support and co-operation of every citizen of the county, 
who desires tliat its history should be gathered and prescved. 
It IS a work in accord with the best spirit of the age, intent upon 
learning, if possible, the events and conditions which have 
wrought thus far in retarding or advancing the welfare of the 
whole human family. If institutions, social, civil and religious, 
which are the present life of communities, are worth the outlay 
of time, money and labor, at which they must be maintained, 
certainly the one organization to gather up and preserve what 
has been accomplished through these manifold agencies, for the 
better knowledge of the generations to come, has a special 



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claim upon our material and moral support. Whatever is 
done to build uj) society in intelligence and wealth ; in virtue 
and stabihty ; in moral and spiritual excellence, is worthy of 
record and precious care. There are incidental uses for such 
an association as this, to which I may refer to as among its at- 
tractions; it is a means of self culture; it gratifies an instinctive 
desii-e to know about men and things in the days gone by, and 
the sources from whence what we now enjoy and prize, has 
been derived. It enlarges the mind and widens one's range of 
thought. It l)i'ing8 into activity the better sensibilities of our 
nature; promotes gratitude and charity, with a generous solici- 
tude for the welfare of those who are to come after us. 

Then again, I count it of imjiortancie that every man should 
have s(^me diversion from his accustomed employment, some 
hobby if 30U please, which will lead him to cultivate genial 
and refined tastes as a defense against the monotonous and sordid 
influence of mere business, and wasting cares of an exacting 
profession, or the selfish tendencies of leisure induced by 
wealth and ease. There is enough of fascination here to divert 
the mind from its beaten track, into a healthy change of at- 
mosphere which may be said to combine most happily the ele- 
ments of a reasonable conservatism with the impulses of a rest- 
less and progressive age, beating hotly through its business 
and social life." 

During the succeeding nine years of the society, over sixty 
valuable and interesting ])apei's were written for, and delivered 
before it, at its several meetings, and T name most of them now, 
in the order of their delivery : 

March 13, 1S77. Champhiin's l^x[)C(litioii to tlie State of New 
York, by (ien. John S. Chirk. 

June 12th, 1S77. Medicine as a Science, by Dr. Lansingh 
Briggs. 

Sept. nth, 1877. IJiography of \Vm. 15ost\vick, by his son, 
Henry H. bostwick. 

Oct. 9th and Nov. 3d, 1877. T)iogra]:)hy of Judge EHjah 
Miller, l)y Hon. H. F. Hall. This jniper required two evenings 



- 9 - 

for its delivery and was quite elaborate, covering a long period 
in the early history of Aurora, Cayuga and Auburn, from 1790 to 
1852. 

Dec. nth, 1877. The Press of Cayuga County, by Elliott G. 
Storke. Mr. Storke died Sept. nth, 1879. 

January 8th, 1878. Early Modes of Travel and Transporta- 
tion, by J. Lewis Grant. Mr. Grant died Oct. 19, 1878. 

February 12, 187S. First Annual Address by President Dr. 
Charles Hawley, on the Work of Historical Societies, published 
by the society in pamphlet form. 

March 12th, 1878. Art and Professional Artists in Cayuga 
County, by Col. T. J. Kennedy. Col. Kennedy died Oct. 3d, 
1883. ' 

May 14th, 1878. Homoeopathy and its introduction into Cay- 
uga County, by Dr. Horatio Robinson, Sen. 

June 12th, 1878. Henry Clay's Visit to Auburn and Western 
New York, by Wm. H. Bogart of Aurora. 

October 8, 1878. The Auburn Declaration of 1837, by Prof. 
Samuel M. Hopkins. 

Nov. 19th, 1878. Early Days in Auburn, by Michael S. Myers. 
Mr. Myers died Dec. 16th, 1883. 

January 14th, 1879. A Sketch of Captain Roswell Franklin, 
one of the pioneer settlers of Cayuga County, by Dr. Hawley. 

February 15th, 1879. Second Annual Address of President 
Dr. Charles Hawley. 

April 15th, 1879. A paper upon Communism, by Dr. Blanch- 
ard Fosgate ; read by Secretary, 

May 13th, 1879. Early Settlement of the town of Genoa, by 
D. \V. Adams. 

Oct. 14th, 1879. Tife and Times of Millard Fillmore, by Dr. 
Cyrus Powers of Moravia. Dr. Powers died March 21st, 1880. 

Nov. nth, 1879. The Bar of Cayuga County from 1843 to 
i860, by James R. Cox. 

Dec. i6th, 1879, and Jan. 13th, 1880. Sullivan's Campaign 
against the Western Indians, compiled by Gen. John S. Clark, 
from the journal of the late Col. John L. Hardenburgh, together 
with a biographical sketch of Col. Hardenburgh, by Dr. Charles 
Hawley. These papers were printed in pamphlet form by the 



- 10 - 

society and are known as "Publication No. i, of the Cayuga 
County Historical Society." 

Feb. loth, 1880. Third Annual Address by the President, Dr. 
Charles Hawley, on the work of the Society, and Early History 
of Western New York, published by the Society in pamphlet 
form. 

March 19th, 1S80. History of the Society of Friends in Cay- 
uga County, by Miss Emily Howland of Sherwood. Printed in 
Historical Society Publication, No. 2. 

Oct. 19th, 18S0. Early Recollection of Auburn, by Mrs. John 
Porter, assisted by Miss Mary Bacon ; read by the Secretary. 

Nov. i6th, 1880. Recollections of the Origin and Growth of 
the Temperance Movement, by David Wright. 

Dec. 22d, 18S0. Inventors and Inventions of Cayuga County, 
by Hon. Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr. Also at the same meeting, a short 
biographical sketch of Cyrenus \\'heeler, Jr., by Hon. D. M. 
Osborne. l>oth of these papers were printed in Historical Society 
Publication No. 2, the paper of Mr. Wheeler, on Inventions, being 
beautifully illustrated by our townsman, Frank R. Rathbun. 

Jan. nth, 18S1. Reminiscences of my early life in Auburn, 
by Mrs. S. Benton Hunt of New York ; read by the Secretary. 

Feb. 8th, 18S1. Fourth Annual Address by President Dr. 
Charles Hawley, printed in Historical Society Publication No. 2. 

March 8th, 1881. Recollections of my early life in Auburn, 
by Mrs. Deborah Bronson, assisted and read by Mr. Wm. A. 
Baker. 

.\liri! 12, 1S81. Biographical sketch of Judge I^^lijah Miller ; 
read by Frederick I. Allen. 

Oct. [ith, 1881. Recollections of Auburn, by Mrs. A. M. B. 
Clary ; read by Secretary. Mrs. Clary died Feb. 13, 1882. 

Nov. 15, 1881. Reminiscences of Port Jiyron, by Dr. James 
D. Button. 

Feb. 15th, 1882. Fifth Annual Address by President Dr. 
Charles Hawley, printed in Historical Society Publication No. 2. 

March 14th, 1882. Early Reminiscences of Auburn, by Mr. 
Leverett Ball ; read by the Secretary at a meeting held at the 
residence of the \'ice-President. 



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June i6, 1882. Biographical sketch of Mrs. A. M. B. Clary, 
by Dr. James D. Button. 

Oct. i2t]i, 1882. Sketch of the life of Gov. Enos T. Throop, 
by Mrs. E. T. T. Martin ; read by Josiah Letchworth. 

Nov. II, 1882. An unwritten chapter in the History of Au- 
burn, by Harold E. Hills. 

Jan. 1 6th, 1SS3. Early history of the Bank of Auburn, by 
James Seymour, Jr. 

Feb. 13th, 1883. Sixth Annual Address by the President, Dr. 
Charles Hawley. 

March 13th, 1883. Early Recollections of the Town of Owas- 
co, by John T. Brinkerhoff ; read b)' the Secretary. 

April 25th, 1883. Cayuga Joint Stock C'ompany, by Weston 
A. Ogden of Kings Ferry. 

Dec. nth, 1883. Sketches of James S. Seymour and S. L. 
Bradley ; read by W. H. Seward. 

Jan. T5th, 1884. Some Reminiscences of C. H. Merriman, by 
James R. Cox. 

Feb. 12th, 18S4. Seventh Annual Address of President Dr. 
Charles Hawley. 

March nth, 1S84. History in Geographical Names, by Prof. 
Willis J. Beecher. 

May 13th, 1884. Memorial on the life of Silas L. Bradley, liy 
Rev. Wm. H. Allbright. 

Nov. nth, 1884. Historical Sketch, Burning of St. James 
Hotel, by B. B. Snow. 

Dec. 9th, 1884. Character, Manners and Customs of the 
Iroquois Indians, by Prof. S. M. Hopkins. 

Jan. nth, 1885. Sketch of Dr. Oliver Swain Taylor, then the 
oldest living resident of Auburn, having lately passed his one 
hundredth birthday, by his grandson, Henry T. Keeler. At this 
meeting Dr. Taylor was made one of the honorary members of 
the society. Dr. Taylor died April 19th, 1885, aged one hun- 
dred years, four months and two days. 

March loth, 1885. Eighth and last Annual Address of Presi- 
dent Dr. Charles Hawley. 

April 14th, 1885. History of Cayuga County Bank, by D. W. 
Adams. Published in pamphlet form. 



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May 26th, 1885. Biographical sketch of the celebrated Indian 
Chief " SayengLierchtor " or "Old Smoke," by Hon. George S. 
Conover of Geneva. 

Nov. 28th, 1885. Thirteen short Memorial Addresses on the 
death of our President, Dr. Charles Hawley, which occurred 
Nov. 26th, 1885. These addresses were made by Judge B. F. 
Hall, Prof. R. B. Welch, John H. Osborne, Prof. Willis J. Beecher, 
Prof. George R. Cutting, Rev. Wm. H. Allbright, Rev. C. C. 
Hemenway, Lewis E. Lyon, John W. O'Brien, B. B. Snow, Fred- 
erick I. Allen, Wm. G. Wise and W. H. Seward. 

In nddilion to the literary contributions heretofore mentioned, 
one of tlie most interesting and attractive features of tlie meet- 
ings in 1877 and 1878 were several most excellent papers 
written and read by Mr. B. B. Snow, as a record of current local 
events. These papers were a connected narrative of current 
incidents of local and general interest as they occurred from day 
to day, given in such a briglit and humorous manner that their 
reading never failed to draw large audiences to our rooms 
whenever announced. Tlie}^ were always listened to with the 
utmost pleasure by the members of the society and their guests, 
and when finally discontinued I think it was to the serious re- 
gret of eveiy one who had been fortunate enough to hear them. 

While on this subject I take great pleasure in stating that 
after much solicitation from his associates, Mr. Snow has con- 
sented to renew this record, and has promi.sed us (if his time 
will permit) to give the society a paper on this subject every 
other month during our regular meeting season, or at least four 
papers during the year, unless current events cease ha[)j»ening, 
in which case there may possibly be fewer papers. 

The trustees feel that in consenting to again take U)) this 
work, Mr. Snow does much to further the success of our society 
in the future. 

I have been thus particular in giving the dates, subjects 
and authors' names of these various literary contributions, not 
only as a matter of reference, but because they each and all 
contain valuable information of the past, and embrace a wide 
range of subjects and matter, covering a period in our local his- 



- 13 - 

tory from 1779 down to the present day. which should not be 
lost sight of, as present duties shall absorb our attention. 

Thus grouped together and brought to our attention now, 
the.^e papers illustrate to some extent the fact, that the Cayuga 
County Historical Society has been actively at work for the 
past ten years, and while I believe that it has during that time 
instructed and entertained its own members, it has at the same 
time collected facts of much value to the student and historian, 
many of which miglit have passed out of memory and been lost, 
when our own generation shall have given place to those 
younger people who are following close behind, and who ere 
long will succeed us. 

We have some very valuable relics and I'ecords, contributed 
from time to time to the museum of the society, and such con- 
tributions are continually increasing in number; much may 
now be found among them that make our rooms attractive to 
the stranger, who may visit our city ; or the resident who 
wishes to pass an hour in histoi'ical research. 

AUB urn's future. 

I have given you somewhat of the work of our society in 
the past. What of it in the future? While it perhaps cannot 
be reasonably expected that in the busy world surrounding us, 
any very large number of our citizens will be likely to take an 
active part in such an organization, or at least more than a 
passing interest in its affairs, as particular subjects are brought 
forward, ajipealing to tlie different tastes or interests of individ- 
.lals, still it does not seem at all unreasonable to expect that out 
of a population of 25,000 people, from fifty to one hundred 
ladies and gentlemen can be found, willing to help carry for- 
ward this work, not ordy for the gratification of themselves, but 
also for the benefits that will result to others. 

Our records, as they accumulate, furnish correct information 
of men and events, in one of the oldest and most interesting 
counties in Central New York. The fact is not to be under- 



- 14 - 

estimated, for go where you will, in all the states west of our 
own, you will tiiul no one in whieh there are not those, or their 
ehildren, who look back to Central New York as their old 
home; speak of it with pride and affection, and are seeking, 
from time to time, more information as to its places and indi- 
viduals, 

Auburn will, I assuiue, continue to grow and develoji ; and 
I am perfectly sure that it will continue to make histoi-j, iiuich 
of which will soon pass out of mind, unless gathered up and 
retained by societies like ours. Let us consider this well, and 
realize that the Cayuga County Historical societ}^ has a mission 
to perform whose results will be interesting and beneficial to 
many. The influence of such organizations heljis to broaden 
the views, not only of those engaged in the work, but also of 
the whole community in which they are located. 

Auburn with its thrifty, growing population, with its beau- 
tiful location and surroundings, with its substantial institutions 
and residences, certainlv furnishes a good field for historical 
work ; sometimes I think we do not half appreciate what a 
really good town we live in, and when every now and then 
I hear some constitutional grumbler charging our city with a 
lack of public spirit, or charity, or enterprise, or something of 
that character, I feel as though a more careful examination of 
our surroundings would, perhaps, lead to a very different con- 
clusion. I believe, myself, that Auburn is far ahead of most 
cities of its size, in its public development and enterprise, and 
in the collective and individual liberality of its citizens. While 
there are undoubtedly many things to be desired in the way of 
public improvements, in our own city, which we lack, we should 
not overlook those which we now possess, in our eagerness to 
secure improvements, which happen at the moment to absorb 
our individual attention, and thereby commit ourselves to the 
narrow error of charging wholesale illiberality u|)on a commun- 
ity which in fact has ever been well up to the tinies in its pub- 
lic and private enterprise. We are making history now, and 



- 15 - 

must cling closely to facts. Few small cities seem to be better 
provided for in many ways, than Auburn. 

PUBLIC BUILDING. 

Our public school system is one of the best in the state, well 
conducted, and in the main, well equipped. We have thirteen 
substantial school houses, which with the parochial schools, 
instruct about four thousand live hundred scholars. Certainly 
there is no lack of enterprise in our efforts to educate our chil- 
dren. 

We have the Auburn Theological seminary, with its beauti- 
ful, well-built structures, costing over $200,000, with its corps of 
six learned professors, and its forty students, all helping in no 
small degree, to add refinement and Christian culture to our 
city, and presenting an institution of which we may feel proud. 
Its alumni now number 1,300. 

We have the Seymour library (well and judiciously endowed 
through the liberality of the late James S. Seymour, one of 
Auburn's most noble citizens), containing over ten thousand 
volumes and open to the public for a nominal fee, which, by 
the way, I earnestly hope will be wholly abolished before many 
years. 

Our Young Men's Christian Association, composed of active, 
earnest young men, doing an excellent and noble work in the 
field which they seek to cover; their new and beautiful build- 
ing is a lasting monument to the spirit of liberality on the 
part of those of our citizens, (dead and living), who furnished 
the means of its erection and also to the energy and disinter- 
estedness of the members of the association who carried the 
work forward ; this building and its equipment cost not less 
than $65,000. The total membership of the association in all 
its departments is now six hundi-ed and eleven and the average 
attendance daily upon all its branches is about one hundrtd 
and sixty-five. 

We have eighteen churches, most of their edifices being of 
modern construction, and several of very beautiful architec- 



- ICy - 

tiinil uppearnnce, costing, I assume, not less than one million 
dollars. Not'ceab'y among them for beauty are the Fii'st Pres- 
byterian, St. Peter's, St. Mary's, First Bajjtist, Second Baptist, 
and St. John's, and other church buildings are, I understand, 
soon to follow. 

Surely, the churches, and the several other institutions just 
named, bear evidence of enterprise and liberality, on the part 
of our citizens, who have provided them without the slightest 
hope of any other return than that highest of all, the conscious- 
ness of seeking to benefit their fellow men. 

CHAIUTABLE INSTITUTIONS. 

Our charitable institutions are numerous and exceptionally 
well managed. Among them are the Cayuga asylum for desti- 
tute children with its eighty-four inmates, the Home of the 
Friendless with its twenty homeless or infirm women, the 
Auburn city hospital with its twenty patients, and accommoda- 
tions for forty or more, where cases of accident or severe illness 
are cared for, with or without compensation, as the emergency 
requires. All of the three last named institutions have plain, 
substantial buildings, wholly built by the private donations of 
our citizens. And all are under the watchful care and manage- 
ment of philanthropic women, who are willing to devote their 
time and attention to such good works. I see no want of 
benevolent enterprise here. 

We have many other most excellent active benevolent asso- 
ciations, conducted by men and women in our community, too 
many for me to specify at this time, but I believe I shall keep 
within bounds if I say they will reach one hundred or more in 
number. I mention only by the way of illustration : the Young 
Ladies' Benevolent Association, the Women's Employment 
Society, Auburn Women's Industrial Union, tlie Auburn 
Women's Temperance Union, the Martha Washington Society, 
the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, the St. George's Soci- 
ety, the Auburn Bi'anch of the Society for the Prevention of 



- 17 - 

Cruelty to AniTials, and hosts of others, all liberally supported 
by Auburnians, eaeh one doing its work quietly and efficiently 
in its own special sphere. 

Liberality and enterprise are not lacking in these directions, 
it appears. 

SOCIAL AND LITERARY. 

There are also many social and literary and business associa- 
tioiis. Among them, our own Historical Society, with its pres- 
ent membership of fifty; the Auburn Cit3' Club, with its nine- 
ty members and its well-appointed club house where our busi- 
ness men meet of an evening to discuss commercial, political, 
or social questions, and should any of them forget the hour and 
stay too late, a handy telephone is provided so that anxious 
wives may call their husbands home. 

Then, there is the Young Men's Law Club, where our young 
lawyers may meet and discuss how to get their clients out of 
or into difficulty. 

The Wheeler Rifles, a fine military organization with its one 
hundred and four members, who stand deservedly high for 
drill and discipline in the national guard of the state. 

The Auburn Turf Club with its one hundred members, most 
of whom own line horses, whose beauty and speed are a source 
of much pride to their owners. 

Two Grand Army Posts : Post Seward and Post Crocker, 
who look with jealous care to the interests of the veteran sol- 
diers and their families. 

^^he last new organization is the Toboggan Club, with its 
sixty young members, earnestly bent upon sliding into a good 
time, 

MANUFACTURIXG^lNTERESTS. 

Our manufacturing interests are unusually extensive and 
varied, and as a rule are prosperous. Their buildings are sub- 
stantial, covering acres of ground, and with their equipment cost- 
ing more than two millions of dollars, all of which brings back 



- 18 - . 

direct returns ; not only to their enterjirising owners, but also 
to nearly every branch of commercial business in our city. 
Most, or in fact, all of these great factories and mills, have been 
built, equipped, and are to-day carried on with the money and 
by the energy of the citizens of Auburn, and I can now recall 
but one single exception, (that of the Auburn Woolen Com- 
pany), where outside capital is to any considerable extent in- 
vested in our industries ; and even in this case, the mill itself 
was built originally wholly by local subscriptions to its stock. 
Time permits me to mention only a few of the larger of 
those impormnt industries, which contribute so considerably to 
sustain and build up our town ; of these I recall : 

Employes. 

D. M. Osborne & Co., reaper manufacturers. 1,225 

Auburn Woolen Co., cloth " 370 

Canoga " " " " 71 

E. D. Clapp, Combined Corporations, carriage, hard- 

ware and lumber wagons, (when running full), 384 

Josiah Barber & Sons, carpets, 250 to 260 

Nye & Waite, carpets, 225 

The Birdsall Co., threshing machines and engines,. 250 

A. W. Stevens & Son. " " " . . 100 

Auburn Button Co.,(150), and Logan Silk Mills (250) 400 

Auburn M'f'g Co., tools and agricultural implements 140 to 150 
David Wadsworth & Son, tools and agricultural 

implements, 80 to 100 

Auburn Tool Co., carpenters' tools, 70 

Sheldon & Co., carriage and wagon axles, now clos- 
ing, 300 

Empire Wringer Mill, 35 

Tuttle Rolling Factory, 30 to 35 

Three large shoe factories, about 150 

These with very many smaller factories and shops are actively 
engaged in producing articles for general consumpti(^n through- 
out the country. 



- 19 - 

Our malting and brewing establishments, five in namber, are 
large and have valuable plants, in which some two hundred 
thousand dollars is invested. They use about one hundred and 
sixty-five thousand bushels of grain annually and give employ- 
ment to sixty men. The brewers make twenty thousand bar- 
rels of beer per annum, or six hundred and twenty thousand 
gallons. 

Perhaps I should not here omit to mention the Auburn 
State's Prison with its nine hundred and seventy convicts, and 
also the State Asylum h)r insane criminals with its one hundred 
and eighty-nine inmates. And while these last two named 
institutions in no respect represent or form any part of our 
commendable enterprises, nevertheless they are an element of 
financial protit to our community. 

OTHER ASSOCIATIONS AXD INSTITUTIONS. 

We have other associations and corporations which catinot 
well be placed in any of the preceding classes that I have men- 
tioned, and yet which help to demonstrate that we are well up 
with the times ; of these there occur to me : 

The Cayuga County Agricultural Society with its permanent 
grounds of twenty acres, located within our city limits. 

The Empire State Telephone company (wholly a local organ- 
ization) with its active exchange, answering the various calls 
that are daily made upon it by three hundred more or less 
patient or impatient subscribers. 

The Auburn Water Works company representing local cap- 
ital to the amount of four hundred thousand dollars, with its 
now excellent water S3^stem, embracing nearly or quite thirty 
miles of water mains, three hundred and six fire hydrants, draw- 
ing its supply from the beautiful Owasco lake, twenty-five feet 
below its surface and one thousand four hundred feet from the 
north shore, and distributing to our citizens two millions five 
hundred thousand gallons of water daily, by the aid of its dif- 
ferent engines. Owasco lake water has of late become so much 



- 20 - 

an element of necessity and comfort to our citizens, that it may 
be gratifying to hear the result of its chemical analysis made in 
1876 by Prof. Charles F. Chandler of Columlia college, in 
which he pronounces it unusually pure, except fromlime. He 
says, " reducing one gallon of this water'^to grains, I find the 
total number to be 58,318 grains, of which only 9^53 100_;are,of 
impure or foreign matter." Ovvasco^lake 'covers 7,400 ,acres of 
land, and has the unusually large water shed of 92,000 acres. 
Its greatest depth is stated at 300 feet, 

The Auburn Gas Light company (much abused to be sure, 
because it happens to be a gas con:vpany, but nevertheless fur- 
nishing pretty good gas at the moderate rate of $2.25 per 
thousand feet). This company has thirty-three miles of pipe 
and 700 public lights and make 30,000,000 feet of gas per 
annum. 

We have also two active electric light companies, 'which are 
rapidly getting a foothold in our streets and business 'places 
and are now furnishing over two hundred arc lights. 

A steam heating company manufacturing the steam which 
heats with the aid of its five boilers more than "one hundred 
and fifty different stores, offices and buildings, some of them 
over half a mile distant from^the boiler house. 

We have a good street railway [traversing the central part of 
the city, and ere long I believe tobe extended to Owasco lake. 

We have three active daily news[)apers, and seven weeklies 
some one of which finds its way into the home of almost every 
family in Auburn. 

Our public cemeteries are also worthy of our city; Fort Hill, 
St Joseph's and Soule cemetery are all fitting resting places 
for our dead. 

We have five banks of discount and two savings banks, 
employing an average capital and surplus of $1,581,000, hold- 
ing average deposits of $4,605,000, and loaning mostly to the 
citizens of our own town and county $3,512,000. 



- 21 



FURTHER STATISTICS. 



By way of further statistical information for those interested 
in such matters, perhaps I should state, the present population 
of Auburn, as near as can now be ascertained, is 25,312. This 
however does not include one thousand one hundred and fifty- 
nine convicts confined in the state prison and lunatic asylum, 
who. while they do not voluntarily come here to reside, (and I 
am happv to say, in most instances leave as soon as the business 
that brought them here is finished) nevertheless by a state law 
while they do remain, are enumerated as a part of tlie inhabitants 
of our citv. Our population has doubled since the close of the 
late war, it being reporte 1 in 1865 at 12,567. 

The assessed valuation of real estate and personal property 
of Auburn is $10,712,287. 

Auburn has not been illiberal in its municipal assistance for 
railroad building. Issuing its bonds at one time for one hun- 
dred thousand dollars to aid the Lake Ontario, Aubui'u and 
New York railway, in 1853, which by the way, was never 
built, although the bonds themselves have been paid off. 

And again, in 1867 and 1868 aiding the Southern Central 
railway with $500,000; this road, more fortunate than its pre- 
decessor, was completed in 1872, opening new avenues of trade 
to our merchants as well as bringing much needed competition 
in our local freight facilities. 

We are not without enterprise in our city government. We 
have one hundred and seventy four different streets, extending 
in the aggregate over one hundred miles in length and crossed 
by four hundred and fifty cross walks. 

An active board of health looking with vigilant care after 
the public sanitary interests, and now and then encouraging us 
with statements showing our city to be an unusually healthy 
one. They sadden us with a mortality report for 1885 of 357 
deaths, but reassure us by stating that the births in the same 
period were 628. 



- 22 - 

A good board of charities and police keeping the unruly 
under subjection and distributing help in 188-i to one thousand 
six hundred and fifty, and in 1885 to eight hundred and thirty- 
three needy persons. 

Our fire department is well organized (under the supervision 
of a board of three fire commissioners.) It has six hose com- 
panies, one hook and ladder company, and one patrol company, 
all manned by one hundred and ninety-six active members, and 
commanded by a good chief engineer and two assistants. The 
department has been called out during the past year thirty-four 
times, twenty-five of which were for actual fires. 

We have a good mayor (Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., who by the 
way is a member of our Historical society) who with ten mem 
bersof the common council, devote their services without pecu- 
niary reward, to what they deem the best interest of their fel- 
low citizens. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

Our public buildings, such as we have, are most of them 
creditable to our city, and as a whole are by no means to be 
regarded as of an inferior order. 

Our court house and city hall, although built many years 
ago, are still adequate for their use. 

Our new clerk's office is convenient, substantial and not lack- 
ing in architectural beauty. 

The five substantial ho.se houses and thirteen public schools 
are all good buildings. 

Our state prison and asylum for insane criminals are impos- 
ing and serviceable. 

Our state armory, built in 1873, like many of our other large 
buildings, of our native blue limestone, is strikingly handsome 
and durable and capable of accommodating a regiment of one 
thousand men. It cost the state $85,000. 

Our jail is, I am constrained to say, inadequate for its uses, 
and before long I have no doubt, will be remodeled. 

To these is to be added the United States building which 
will doubtless contribute another fine structure to our city. 



- 23 - 

And, ladies and gentlemen, I might go on enumerating evi- 
dences of Auburn's thrift and enterprise,but I fear I have already 
taxed your patience by this dry recital of facts; if, however it 
shall give to anyone of our citizens a better idea of his town 
and thereby contribute to our local pride and contentment, I 
shall feel that the time has not been entirely wasted. 

Let me mention one more general fact, and I am through. 

Auburn is a city of great stability in its business and com- 
mercial affairs, and while we unquestionably sympathize with 
the general pulsation of trade as evidenced by its prosperity or 
depression throughout the whole country, nevertheless, we do 
not seem often to ride upon the top wave of speculation or 
sink into the depths of depression, as is frequently the case 
with some other localities ; an apt illustration of this came to 
me the other day through a conservative friend who, speaking 
of his thermometer, said : " Somehow mine does not seem to 
ascend so high nor fall so low as those of my neighbors, and I 
have noticed when others report ninety-five degrees mine seems 
never to get above ninety, and when others report twenty 
degrees below zero, mine seldom falls' below fifteen and a half 
degrees." 

SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL. 

Perhaps we may find reason to congratulate ourselves that it 
is so in our affairs here in Auburn, and while I believe it is 
very commendable in every citizen to put his shoulder to the 
wheel and aid in every good work that helps to build up and 
develop our town, at the same time I think that this can best 
be accomplished by appreciating what others have done before 
us, and that it is more commendable to try to improve and 
extend what we now enjoy, than to overlook or belittle it. 

Taken therefore as a whole. Auburn is a city and a home to 
be proud of, and the Cayuga County Historical Society cannot 
be better engaged than in recording its growth and progress as 
it makes new history from day to day. 



^n^i— — ■^^BL.L.IA-WALIJUIl.JWIL... JiJJjyi 



IN MEMORIAxM. 



The Rev. Charles HawleYjD.D. 



Founder and First President of the 

Cayuga County Historical Society. 



THE PROCEEDINGS 

of a Special Meeting of the Society, held Nov. 28, 1885, 

and a 
MEMORIAL ADDRESS, 

delivered before the Society, March 9, 18S6, 
by 

Rev. Willis J. Beecher, D. D. 
WITH APPENDIX. 



On Friday evening, November 13, 1885, Dr. Ilawlej' was 
suddenly prostrated by a stroke of paralysis. The attack was 
a serious one, and, though he afterward partially rallied, yet 
from the first only the faintest hopes were entertained of his 
recovery. He lingered until Thanksgiving day, Thursday, 
November 26. On that day pneumonia set in, and death 
ensued at ten o'clock in the evening. 



PROCEEDINGS OF. THE SOCIETY. 



A special meeting of the Cayuga County Historical Society 
was called Saturday evening, November 28, 1885, to take 
action on the death of il.s founder and president, the Rev. 
Charles Hawley, D. D. Tlie meeting was lai-gely attended, and 
deep feeling was manifested. The president's vacant chair was 
draped in mourning. Gen. W. H. Seward, vice-president, 
called the meeting to oixler and said : 

" It is my painful duty to make official announcement of the 
death of the respected and much loved president of this society. 
This sad event occurred at his residence in this city, at about 
ten o'clock* Thursday evening, November 26, 1885. The Rev. 
Charles Ilawley, D. D., was the founder of the Cayuga County 
Historical Society, in the year 1S76, and from then until now 
he has remained its only president. He was its earnest and 
active friend from the beginning, and has done more than any 
other person to promote its welfare and carry forward its laud- 
able aim, to collect and preserve correct records of local events. 
His work on earth is completed and his memory now passes 
into that history which he himself did so much to retain and 
perpetuate. His life has been one of usefulness and good 
works, and while we now mourn the loss of our faithful presi- 
dent, the community regrets the removal by death of a just 
and liberal citizen, and many of us here to-night will i-emem- 
ber him as one of our best and dearest friends. We are not to 
forget that his good deeds and their influence will live after 
him, and that the whole community is better for his life among 
us. 

The history of Dr. Hawley 's life and public services will, I 
trust, form the subject of an extended, interesting and instruc- 



- 28 - 

tive paper, later on, to be contributed to the archives of this 
association in which he took so deep an interest, and it should 
be our early duty to secure a faithful record of one whose 
labors and untiring energy in behalf of others has entered so 
largely into the history of our city for moi-e than a quarter of 
a century. 

The vacant chair which he occupied with so much dignity at 
our meetings for the past ten years reminds us of his pleasant, 
genial face and cordial manner, ready to give a hearty greeting 
to each associate as they came. Courteous and agreealjle to all 
alike, he had a way of making those with whom he came in 
contact love and respect him. He was the trusted adviser of 
manv, and those who sought his counsel or sympathy always 
found in him a willing ear and helpful hand. God has given 
to but few all the noble traits possessed by Charles Hawley, 
and there was much in his character that we might well adopt 
and follow as the example of a pure man, an unselfish neigh- 
bor, and a friend to be trusted in time of need. 

It is therefo''e most fitting that this meeting of the Cay:^ga 
County Historical Society should bg held, to express the feel- 
ings of regret and sympathy which its members entertain at 
the loss of their president and fellow associate." 

The Rev. Willis J. Beecher, Hon. B. B. Snow, and Professor 
Geo. R Cutting were appointed a committee to report resolu- 
tions for the action of the society. The committee subse- 
quently reported the following : 

Whereas, It has seemed good to our Heavenly Father to 
remove from us liev. Charles Hawley, D. IX. the president of 
this society from its organization; who deceased Nov. 26th, 
1885, in the 67th year of his age, and the 42nd of his service 
in the ministry of the gospel ; therefore. 

Resolved, First, that we hereby express our sense of the great 
loss we suffer in the removal of Dr. Hawley ; the loss to this 



- 29 - 

society of a faithful and devoted member and presiding officer ; 
the loss to each of us, personally, of a friend, highly esteemed 
and deeply loved ; the loss to the community of one, who, as 
a citizen and a Chrisuan pastor, was widely known, was trusted 
by all, and was greatly influential for good. 

Second, that we express our appreciation of the importance 
of the services which Dr. Hawley has rendered to this society, 
and through this society to the public ; using his gifts and his 
influence for securing due recognition of the value of the work 
of preserving historical materials, and of making historical 
investigations ; and himself accomplishing results in the study 
of American history, such as have secured to him an honora- 
ble place among men distinguished in these studies. 

Third, that we especially express our conviction of the value 
of the work he has done, in calling attention to the labors of 
the early missionai-ics of the Roman Catholic church, among 
the tribes formerly inhabiting the region of central and western 
New York ; we are proud to recognize the heroic deeds of these 
men as a part of the history of our country ; and rejoice in the 
hope that work of this kind done by Dr. Ilawley and by others 
of the same spirit with him, will have its influence in promoting 
catholicity of feeling among all who bear the Christian name. 
Fourth, that in token of our respect for Dr. Hawley, and of 
our mourning for his loss, the rooms of the society be properly 
draped; and that we accept the invitation of his family to 
attend the funeral services. 

Fifth, that this action be;entered upon the minutes of the 
society ; that a copy of it be presented to the family of Dr. 
Hawley, with the expression of our earnest sympathy with 
them in their sorrow ; that copies be offered for publication to 
the daily papers of Auburn, and that copies of papers contain- 
ing it be sent to the societies with which this society is in cor- 
respondence. 



- 30 - 

The resolutions were unanitnously adopted, and the presiding 
officer invited the members to speak, when short and feeling 
addresses were made by Judge Hall, Prof. R. B. Welch, John 
H. Osborne, Prof. W. J. Beecher, James Seymour. Jr., Profes- 
sor Geo. P. Cutting, the Rev. W. 11. Allbright, the Rev. C. C. 
Hemenway, Lewis K Lyon, John W. O'Brien, B. B. Snow, 
F. T. Allen, Major W. G. Wise, and Dr. Theodore Dimon. 

Messrs. L. E. Lyon, J. IL Osborne, and D. ^L Dunning were 
appointed a committee to dnipe the rooms in mourning, after 
which the meeting adjourned. 

Of the gentlemen who made addresses at the meeting, the 
followirjg have kindly, at the request of the society, furnished 
abstracts. 

REMARKS OF HON. B. F. HALL. 

General Seward : 

I came here in response to your invitation to })articipate in 
the proceedings of this society to manifest its sorrow for the 
decease of its beloved and eminent president, and to })ay ;i[)pro- 
priate tribute to his character and memory. Although the 
occasion is a sad one for us all, I esteem it a privilege to be 
here and to mingle my humble homage with yours. 

Doctor Ilavvley was a superior man in his vocation, and in 
all his varied positions and relations — theological, political, 
official and social. By nature and by culture he was capable 
of filling and honoring any position in society, and in the gov- 
ernment, to which he might be called. That qualification was 
recognized by your father, when he selected him for the dip- 
lomatic mission to St. Thomas, He was capable of searching 
deeply into profound subjects, as his papers read before you at 
various times amply attest. By his researches into the hazy 
depths of American ArchiBology and Ethnology, while president 
of this society, he became an erudite and famous antiquarian. 



- 31 - 

And by his genial disposition and manners, he magnetized and 
charmed everybody with whom he was associated in this soci- 
ety, and elsewhere in his summerings abroad. And^as he was 
the founder of this society, its president since it was organized, 
and its principal pillar, this meeting and your address were 
timely, to afford us all the opportunity to pay some tribute to 
his memory. I cheerfully concur in the expressions of sorrow 
and tribute expressed in the resolutions reported by tlie com- 
mittee, and also in your suggestion that a careful biography of 
Dr. Hawley's life and public services shall be prepared and 
deposited in the archives of this society to be preserved in a 
permanent form. That should be done for the benefit of the 
present and future members of this society, as a tribute of grat- 
itude to him. It should be done moreover, for the benefit of 
kindred societies in this and other lands. But whether his 
bi(\graphy shall be deposited in a printed or written form on 
paper or parchment in your archives or not, his great works 
will survive long after the contents of your archives shall have 
crumljled into dust. Dr. liawley lived for immortality and 
attaitied it. He is still alive. I have known Di\ Hawley well 
for eight and twenty years, and some of the time I have held 
confidential intercourse with him. I admired him at first, as a 
clergyman of superior talents and qualifications for his voca- 
tion. As time rolled apace and duties outside o£ his vocation 
as a pastor devolved upon him, I was charmed with him. I 
perceived then that he was an intellectual and courageous Her- 
cules, capable of great achievements in great national emer- 
gencies. As a divine I then thought that he resembled my 
ideal of the great apostle to the Gentiles, more than of any other 
character known to history, and, a,s a statesman, iVlexander 
Hamilton, who by a marvelous ins[)ii"ation " had the laws and 
the constitution by heart." From that time onward, I revered 
him as a sage. 



- 32 - 

After the termination of the war, during which we were 
temporarily separated by ofhcial duties elsewhere, we renewed 
our intercourse with each other, when I found his views, senti- 
ments and tastes upon historical subjects, to be in harmony 
with my own. During the interval between the death of your 
venerable grandfather. Judge Miller, under whose inspiration 
I had secured from further desecration the vestiges on Fort 
Hill, and erected the shaft to perpetuate the memory of Logan, 
I had been entirely alone here, with no congenial associate to 
confer with upon the subject of American antiquities or any 
similar theme. I esteemed this discovery of his relish for sub- 
jects which had for many years been so interesting to me, a 
God-send to me. It relieved the tedium of my loneliness very 
considerably, and made his company grateful. And I have 
good reasons for believing that our friendship was reciprocal, 
so that we often revealed and confided to each other our 
respective experiences, necessities and premonitions of mental 
and physical enfeeblement by disease and age. He was afflicted 
for years with an annual attack of what is generally called 
" hay fever," and was obliged to seek the climate of the Cats- 
kills to endure it. And, although he seemed to recover his 
strength and vigor, whilst there daring the hay-flowering sea- 
son, he often said to me after his return to Auburn and to his 
clerical duties, that he was conscious that that disease was grad- 
ually impairing his constitution, and rendering his confinement 
to his vocation more and more irksome. 

He not only had profound esteem for your father in his life- 
time, and enjoyed his society and confidence, but had implicit 
faith in all his suggestions respecting the means to avoid men- 
tal rust. He heard your father r'say, upon his return home 
from his journey around the world, that whilst some thought 
him presumptuous at his time of life, to undertake such a 
journey, he found that some such change of occupation and 
scenery was indispensable to him to avoid inevitable rust. If 



- 33 - 

I overstep the rules of confidential propriety in reverting to 
that circumstance here, I shall hope to be pardoned by those 
who, like myself, have known ever since, tliat that example of 
your father, prompted by that reason, was the moving reason 
of his early desire to engage in such literary employments as 
Historical Societies wonld demand. He fancied that the em- 
ployments of a society like this would produce in him relaxa- 
tion from the monotony and steady drag and draft of his voca- 
tion, and consequently rest. And he imparted his ideas upon 
the subject very freely to me, before he undertook the work. 
I promised him all the assistance in my power; but I declined 
on account of my age and former services in another similar 
society, to take a " laboring oar.'' Hence, T have since assisted 
him in his inve-tigations in all the ways in my power, and have 
been delighted with his success. I have feared lately that he 
was laboring too hard in this new field to obtain any rest from 
the change ; but I feel assured that it was indispensable for him 
in the outset, and I have no reason for believing that his labors 
in this new field have materially shortened his days. 

This, however, I certainly know, his papers upon the Civil- 
ization of the Stone Age, upon Hiawatha the Founder of the 
Iroquois Confederacy and his translations of the journals of the 
Jesuit Missionai'ie.^, of their devoted labors among the Indians, 
witli his enliglitened comments thereon, have secured for his 
name an enduring fame, and embalmed his memory in the hearts 
of the disciples of enlightened and tolerant Christianity 
throughout tlie land. 

KEMARKS OF PROF. R. B. WELCH, ]). 1)., LL. D. 

On Thanksgiving day, I was summoned to the funeral of a 
dear friend in the eastern part of our state. A good and godly 
woman who for ten years had suffered from a severe stroke of 
paralysis, and bent and broken both in body and in mind, had 



- 34 - 

at length yielded up her life. Sincere mourners followed her 
palsied bod}^ to the UMub. 

Returning I'lom the funeral, as I was in sadness musing on 
the deep mystery of human life and death, I casually took up a 
paper which startled me with the announcement of the death 
of llev. Dr. Charles Ilawiey of Auburn, that occurred on the 
evening c>f Thanksgiving day. When I reached home, the 
first letter that I opened was a call from the Cayuga County 
Histi^rical Society, to attend a meeting of its members, in 
memory of its lale, lamented president, 

I rise to second with all my heart the resolutions of respect 
just offered to our deceased and honored president, Rev. Dr. 
Haw ley. 

The ollicial chair is vacant and draped. This official place 
which knew him so long and so familiarly, will know him no 
more forever. We shall no more listen to his inanh' voice and 
his words of wisdom, which have here so often charmed and 
instructed us. 

This society is especially called to mourn. One of the fore- 
most founders of the society, one of its most constant and sym- 
pathetic friends, its honored and saccessful leader for ten vears, 
its first and only president, has beea removed from us by 
death. By one fell stroke, in the full strength of his manhood, 
and in the maturity of his experience and wisdom, when we had 
hoped that Dr. llawley might continue to be the president of 
this society for another decade, suddenly he was stricken down 
by the ruthless hand of death. " The silver cord was loosed, 
and the golden bowl was broken." 

All that our hur.ented president has done for this society, 
I do not propose to recount. Indeed it is better known to 
some of you who have been with him as its active members from 
the first. But in this respect, the Historical Society is itself 
his lifting, enduring memorial. To best appreciate this, w'c need 
but trace its steady progress hitherto, and look around us now. 



- 35 - 

His own choice contributions and annual addresses constitute 
an important part oi' its literature and furnishing. His pains- 
taking and skillful translations form an interesting portion of its 
lasting endowment. His honored name and noble example 
will prove a living inspiration for the time to come. We have 
already one who has himself become historic, as a member of 
this Historical society. It is an incentive and an encourage- 
ment to others. By death he has been removed from us, but 
he is living still and will live in his cherished memory, in his 
worthy example, in his inspiring influence. We shall remem- 
l)er him gladly and lovingly in his purity of chaiacter, in his 
strength ot' intellect, in his breadth of sympathy. 

Seldom have we met with a better balance of strength and 
simplicity of character, of manliness and modesty, of general 
sympathy and per.-onal affection, of pastoral fidelity and social 
activity, of patriotism and prudence, in a \vord, of civic and 
Chnstian virtues. 

We felt assured that he was an earnest and true friend of 
others, and that he was a sympathetic and personal friend of 
each of us. He was a man of profound convictions and of 
fearless utterance, loyal to duty and a faithful servant of Christ, 
yet if he has enemies, T am not aware of it; and if he has had 
enemies, I believe he has won them to respect and friendship 
by the purity of his chai'acter and the consistency of his life. 
During his brief and fatal illness I have heard and answered 
anxious inquiries concerning him from every rank of life in 
Auburn. With our grief at liis loss all our fellow citizens will 
personally sympathize, for with one accord they loved and hon- 
ored him. 

On my return to-day along ihe valley of the Hudson, I passed 
the place of his birth and his boyhood. In my early ministry, 
for several years I was a pastor in that town. Dr. Hawley was 
then preaching in Lyons. He was a stranger to me; but I 
heard the people of Catskill speak of him with affection and 



- 36 - 

pride. They remembered him with fondness as he grew up 
with them. They welcomed his return as he was wont to come 
to Catskill for his vacations; and thence, with lifelong friends, 
set out from Catskill for the mountains, near at hand, which 
he loved so well. 

Last summer I was in Catskill and at the mountains. How 
vividly I remember to-night that, as I registered my name at 
the Catskill Mountain House, almost the first question which I 
answered was : " When is Dr. Hawley coming ?" and that, to 
my answer, " Next week, I believe, Dr. and Mrs. Hawley are 
coming," how heartily they clapped their hands. If I had at 
the moment in the least suspected their sincerity and their 
unselfish friendship, every trace of suspicion would have been 
banished by the repeated tributes of loving regard for Dr. and 
Mrs. Hawley which I heard from the host and hostess at the 
Mountain House. Indeed, they spoke of Dr. Hawley as inti- 
mately related to the history and success of that historic enter- 
prise on the mountain, much as we, this evening, speak of his 
relation to the history and success of the Cayuga County His- 
torical Society. They of the Mountain House, host and hostess 
and patrons, and they of Catskill, all that knew him, will miss 
him and mourn for him as for a son and a brother beloved and 
honored. 

It is not fitting for me to take your time this evening, by 
telling 3'ou how as my personal friend for many years I have 
truly loved him — how I have been increasingly impressed with 
his wisdom and loyalty as a tried and true friend of Auburn 
Theological Seminary — how I have grown in respect for his 
prudence and discretion as a co-presbyter in the Cayuga Pres- 
bytery — how I have more and more prized his ministry, and 
gcen him as my pastor ripening in the Christian graces and 
maturing for Heaven — and how deeply I feel that in the pas- 
torate of the First Presbyterian Church of Auburn, in the 
Board of Trustees of Auburn Theological Seminary, and in the 



-37- 

Presbytery oi Cayuga, we sustain a loss that seems almost 
beyond repair. 

Again, I heartily second these resolutions of respect for one 
whom we all delight to honor and whose memory should be 
embalmed and perpetuated in the records of the Cayuga County 
Historical Society. 

REMARKS OF MR. JOHN H. OSBORNE. 

The judgments of men concerning their fellow men are not 
seldom formed upon superficial evidence. The estimates of a 
man's character and abilities are often based upon what the 
circumstances of his life have made him, upon what in his call- 
ing he outwardly appears to men to be. Not a few are the 
men able to do something more than they yet have done or 
have become, but whose ability has remained all undevel- 
oped under the ordinary tests and trials that the ordinary acts 
and duties of their vocation have put upon them. This may 
be a common and well-worn saying, but we all who knew well 
our beloved president, through many years of companionship 
and friendship, will agree that the truth of it has received new 
illustration and confirmation in his life and character. 

Diligent and faithful as he was, first of all, in his sacred call- 
ing, yet his active mind was ever busy with all that was pass- 
ing of thought or of action in our busy world, and no event of 
moment went by unnoticed or unanalyzed by his accurate and 
incisive faculties. 

His knowledge of men was broad, and keen was his search 
into the motives of human designs;and actions. Keen also was 
that fine moral insight, by which, under guidance of the Divine 
Word, he drew from them and taught to us all the lessons of 
wisdom and righteousness. He was intensely practical in every 
thing, and was ever learning all f^cts having a practical bearing 
upon our every day|life, and his best thoughts and counsel 



- 38 - 

were freely given for the better welfare and comfort of all 
classes of our citizens. 

While firmly conservative in his theological system, he was 
fully alive to and sympathetic with all that was good in every 
man of every name or clime; and we have known this when 
in private converse with him upon any subject that drew upon 
his sympathies, or moved him to the utterance of his always 
true and honest judgments. In this last regard, however, he 
was most tenderly sensitive and careful, always studious that 
naught of ill or wrong, not plainly appearing so to be, should 
be expressed concerning the deeds or words of others. 

In the exercise of any other business or profession, his strong 
mind and proved capacity would have carried him to assured 
eminence and success; but lie loved the work of his sacred 
oflfice and was devoutly thankful, always, that in following it, 
he had obeyed his Master's call. He had, in great measure, 
that spirit of self-sacrifice which he found and so often loved to 
portray in the hearts of those devoted Catholic Fathers who 
gave up their lives in endeavoring to plant the cross in this 
new world. In his " Early Chapters of Cayuga History," there 
is a touching tribute to one of the most faithful and laborious 
of these missionaries, quoted and translated from the work of 
Charlevoix, which in its spirit might apply, even in these later 
times, to the unselfish and zealous soul of our deceased president. 

" He had sacrificed noble talents through which he might 
" have attained high honors in his profession, and looking for- 
" ward only to the martyr fate of many of his brethren who had 
" bedewed Canada with their blood, he had, against the wishes 
" and larger designs of his superiors, obtained this mission, 
" whose obscurity thus placed him far without the circle of 
" ambition's strife, and could present to him naught but the 
" hardships of the Cross. * * * * He often declared to 
" me, that he adored these manifest designs of Providence, per- 
" suaded as he was, that the honors and success he might have 



- 39 - 

" attained upon a more brilliant arena would have resulted in 
" the loss of his soul ; and that this thought was his unfailing 
" consolation amid the sterile results of his long and toilsome 
" apostolate.'' 

Not meagre nor sterile, however, were the results that flowed 
from the living labors which through forty years of apostolic faith 
and zeal Dr. Hawley gave to the work of his ministry and to 
doing good for his fellow men. We willingly pay our tribute to 
the noble qualities of his mind, but above all these and ruling 
them with imperial force, was the will of a tender and sympa- 
thetic nature. Endowed with such a mind and heart and will, 
what great and good things became possible to him, and with 
what fidelity did he make thorough use of them all ! Out of all 
our sorrow over this loss, we yet lift up our thanks that his 
active life has been fruitful in all he most loved to have accom- 
plished ; while it has also been full of blessings toward all who 
knew him. 

REMARKS OF PROF. WILLIS J. BEECHER, D. D. 

D. M. Dunning^ Cor. Secy: 

Dear Sir : — My remarks at the memorial meeting were very 
brief, as my tribute to the memory of Dr. Hawley had already 
been paid, so far as the meeting was concerned, in another form. 

It had been remarked by one of the speakers, that Dr. Haw- 
ley was a man without enemies. Calling attention to that, I 
said that his being so did not arise from his being mainly a man 
of negative qualities, since he was not such a man. He had 
positive convictions and was not afraid to utter them. When 
he felt that the call of duty lay in that direction, he did not 
shrink from uttering his convictions, even when he was sure 
thus to give offence. In the times of the original "Maine 
Law " temperance movement, and also throughout our national 
struggle against secession, he was often placed in a position 



- 40- 

when he was compelled to be outspoken in matters in which 
his opinions antagonized those of many of his parishioners 
and friends. In such cases, no one was left in doubt as to 
where he stood. There were occasions when it cost him some- 
thing to be thus outspoken. At one time, before he came to 
Auburn, many of his friends who belonged to two of the three 
political parties which participated in a hotly contested election^ 
took serious offence at his course in regard to the issues involved. 
Some whom he higlily esteemed, went so far that they avoided 
him on the street. It was to him a source of great gratification, 
that in time, he won them all back. His being without enemies 
arose not from any lack of positiveness of character, but from 
the fact that men were not willing to remain estranged from 
one whom the\' regarded as so manly and so loving. 

REMARKS OP^ REV. WM. II. ALLBKIGHT. 

Mr. President: 

There are times when silence is more eloquent than speech. 
In this presence, and on this subject, one might well be silent. 
There is enough to be said, but personally I do not feel like 
speaking. A feeling of depression has rested upon me ever 
since the intelligence of Dr. Ilawlej^'s death. 

My acquaintance with him covers a period of a little more 
than one-third of his ministry in this city. It has been, from 
the first, quite intimate and cordial, first as a student in the 
Seminary, and a worshipper in his congregation, and later, as 
co-pastor and fellow presbyter. 

It has been my privilege to enjoy, repeatedly, the hospitalities 
of his home, to meet him socially, to be entertained with him 
at our ecclesiastical gatherings, and to enjo}^, with few, his 
genial presence in the meetings of this society. In ever}'' rela- 
tion, I have found him to be a genial companion, a faithful 
friend, a wise counselor, and a Christian gentleman. 



- 41 - 

Without attempting finy analysis of his character, I mention 
three things which have impressed me in our intercourse with 
one another. First, his modesty. No one could fail to be im- 
pressed by it. It was innate and genuine. There was nothing 
ostentatious or presuming in his make-up. He was retiring, 
sometimes, to a fault. He put others forward, when he himself 
could have done so much better. We young ministers feel 
this. He never treated us as inexperienced .young men, but 
honored vis with his confidence as though we were his equals. 
Not even the suggestion of his superiority ever came to us 
from anything on his part. For this we loved him, and shall 
ever venerate his memory. 

Second, he was unselfish. His hand, like his heart, was open 
to all. His was a great, generous nature, which took iu men of 
every condition, creed and color. Nobody can ever charge him 
with littleness, or self-seeking. 

Third, he was genial. With all the responsibilities and duties 
incident to a large parish and a long pastorate, he vTas cheerful 
and serene. No one will think of him as a dyspeptic and a 
grumbler. He had an ear for every form of trouble, and a kind 
word for every one seeking advice or help. No one came to 
him for counsel who did not leave richer and happier. Such 
w\as the man who has gone. This society will feel deeply his 
loss. The community feels it and so does the church. There 
is no one left to fill his place. 

REMARKS OF JOHN W. o'bRIEjST, ESQ. 
Mr. President : 

I cannot speak, like all who have preceded me, as an intimate 
friend of Dr. Hawley. My acquaintance with him was slight, 
a casual introduction being the measure of my personal inter- 
course with him. I knew him as an outsider, one not within 
the circle of his immediate influence, and as such I may speak 



4^2 - 

of him. Born and rearoa as 1 was in this city. Dr. llawley 
has always been to me a part of it*! history. His naiiie was as 
familiar as that of Governor Sevrard, or Dr. Condits or Greorge 
Rathbnn, or any of the eminent citi?:cns whose name^s were 
household words. He was nnivei-sally recognized as a man of 
high character, broad sympathies and rich culture. His exam- 
ple is a stimulus. His life was a helpful one to every one with 
whom he c^me in contact, and the memory of it serves to all 
who knew him as an incitement to a higher activity. All 
denominations and men of every walk of life unite in his praise^ 
and the sorrow for his death is as general. If this society can 
do anything t<">ward per[x*tuatingthe memory of a man of great 
ability, who reared for himself no enduring monument by 
p>liticAi services or literary effort, it will justif}* its existence. 

REMARKS OF WM. G. WISE. 
Mi\ President: 

So much has been said here this evening, and so truly said, 
that I feel— For me. at least, silence is the best tribute that T can 
pay to the memory of Dr. Hawley. 

It was my good fortune to be intimately associated with him 
in different ways, outside of his church, and I long ago learned 
to love and admire him. 

As my friend Mr. Snow has remarked, I cannot realize that 
he is dead, that I shall never again, in this world, receive the 
cordial grasp of his hand, see his genial face, or hear his digni- 
fied and eloquent utterances in this place, on themes in which 
he was so deeply interested. 

All that has been said of him this evening may be condensed 
in one sentence — '"None knew him but to love him, none 
named him but to praise.'" 



-43 - 

LETTER OF THEODORE DIMOX, M. D. 

As a clergyman, he brought personal harmony among his 
brethren, and cessation of religious jealousy and theological 
controversy in our city where they had been rife before he 
came among us. He has been known, esteemed, and regarded 
for his wise counsels among his professional brethren through- 
out the state and country. 

As a citizen, he has been active in originating and sustaining 
our Historical society ; in keeping here and endowing the 
Theological Seminary, our only institution of learning, in 
upholding powerfully the maintenance of the struggle for the 
preservation of the Union, in pointing out and supporting sani- 
tary improvement in our city. A sermon he preached on the 
Sanitary Sunday he caused to be set apart for the purpose, not 
only awakened and enlightened our own citizens on this subject 
of their welfare but has been called for and distributed all over 
the United States. He has always been active in any thing 
which has been for the welfare of our people. He has been 
oar most distinguished citizen since the death of Governor 
Seward. We have no other citizen, so known and esteemed 
both in and out of our own locality in his profession. 

We liave no citizen distinguished in law or medicine to rival 
his reputation. We have no statesman or politician, no man of 
science, no artist, no literary man, no philanthropist to do so. 
By his writings, as a historian of the Jesuit missions to the Six 
Indian Nations in Central New York, before the country was 
settled by whites, he has made himself known and honored in 
this country and abroad. 

These things, in addition to the affection and esteem that his 
personal qualities as a pastor, neighbor, and friend, have excited 
among us and endeared him to us, ought not to be forgotten in 
the sorrow we feel from these causes on account of his death. 
While genial and ardent, he was also prudent wise and strong. 






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MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 



Rs^. WWm J. Bitter, D. D. 

TEE KEY, CHAKLES HAWLEY, h. U 

I do not projiiose t _ _ vi Dr, Hawler to mi^liit I ffcall 

He is ao aos-aallj ec«Bp!€?&e ai»d veil roflaoded represeEtatiTe of 
stating- a few of the more salieot facts €^ fais life, in tiie lM>pe 

ooEtjeat to do tliis because, in doing" ii. 1 am lollcwinff the Ms- 

:.•._•.,■ _ . . ■- Yo^ will psrdoc: 

me. tiKTefore, ii i av . . '-q to tbe ftatel j mainnier of 



want to protsoance ronnded pcmodB cro" Ifc llawlej. We 



he was. 

F^r .:^:;,-:^'-.- :-_^ - for a '- - ■ - " ::fa. are 

aL:--.^:.! ror ::.i .-.-._. ^...:t oE bk --:. - . _... ; - paper 



-46 - 

written by himself in 1869," and supplemented by a few anno- 
tations of later date. The later years of his life were before 
the public ; the record of them is to be found in the newspapers, 
and in many published documents from himself and others, to 
say nothing of the recollections of him still fresh in the mitids 
of us all. 

HIS ANCESTRY. 

In 13i'0, while Richard II. was King of England, John 
Hawley, a rich merchant of Devonshire, waged war against 
the navy of the smuggling ship|)ers, capturing thirty four of 
their vessels, laden with fifteen hundred tuns of wine. This 
man's name. Haw-ley. meadow-hedge, or hedge- meadow, seems 
to indicate that his ancestors were Saxon tillers of the soil. He 
was one of the representatives of Devonshire, during the great- 
est part of the reigns of Henry lY., Henry V., and Henry YL, 
A. D. 1399-1-161, and must therefore have been a man of 
remarkable longevity and vigor. During the reign of Henry 
lY, he received permission to fortify his house at Dartmouth. 
Notices of the fortunes of this man's family, of honors won by 
them, of the ruins of the mansion at Dartmouth, of their inter- 
marriages with the members of the Booth family, and the like, 
are traceable until the year 1629, when the three brothers, 
Joseph, John, and Thomas Hawley, with Richard Booth, mi- 
grated to America, settling at Roxbury, Mass. This was nine 
years after the landing of the Mayflower, and one year before 
the settling of Boston under Winthrop. Ten years later, in 
1639, Joseph Hawley and Richard Booth removed to Stratford, 
Conn., where they bought land, mostly from the Indians, and 
formed a settlement. There the descendants of Joseph Hawley 
multiplied, and in that vicinity many of them have ever since 
resided. 



*This autobiography is quite ft"! and circumstantial. The preparation of it) was 
owing to an arrangement between him and some of his associates in the First Church, 
by which each was to commit to writing a sketch of his own life. 



- 47 - 

Among these, Ezra Hawley, born Sept. 10, 1782, in Bridge- 
port, Conn., married the daughter of the Rev. John Noyes, of 
Norfield, Conn. John Noyes traced his descent, on his father's 
side, through seven generations of ministers, and, through his 
mother, to John Ahlen, efne of the signers of the compact in 
the cabin of the May^ower; the John Alden who married 
Prisciha Mullens, ant/ who is the hero of Longfellow's poem, 
" The (Courtship of Miles Scandish." John Noyes himself la- 
bored for sixty four yWrs in the ministry. 

Our friend Charles ILiwley, the son of Ezra Hawley, was 
born Aug. 19, 1819. TlX facts we have just been considering 
show that he was, by descent and inherited character, a Puritan 
of the Puritans. His ancestors, both through his father and 
his mother, came over either in the Mayflower, or in one of the 
vessels that earliest followed the Ma^'fiower. He came of strains 
of English Puritan blood, the blending of which can be traced 
as far back as we can trace English Puritan blood. His family 
participated in the founding of New England society; and the 
branch of it to which he belonged early established his ancestral 
home in that part of Connecticut where, if anywhere, the blue- 
laws were the bluest and most rigidly enforced. 

HIS CHILDHOOD. 

The home training and the otlier surroundings of the early 
life of our friend were such as the facts of his ancestry would 
lead us to expect. He was born in Catskill, N. Y. His father 
had removed thither to engage in trade. At the time of his 
removal, the Erie canal was not yet in existence, and Catskill 
was the present and prospective centre of an immense trade 
between New York city and the inland regions, much of which 
afterward followed the line of the canal, and went through Al- 
bany. Our own lake region of central New York was then a 
portion of the tract of country whose trade went to New York 
city largely by way of Catskill. At an early date, Ezra Hawley, 



- 48 - 

with other enterprising New England men, men bearing such 
names as Cooke, and Hale, and Day, and Elliott, had the sagacity 
to see that trade must needs grow with the settling up of the 
great west (that is to say, the region now known as central and 
western New York), and moved into the staid old Dutch town, 
to take advantage of its prospective growth. For some years 
they made the town brisk and busy. Ezra Hawley occupied a 
block of buildings, in the different stories of which ^he carried 
on both a wholesale and retail trade in dry goods, groceries, 
provisions, produce of all sorts, liquors, and other goods. He 
was also a director in the village bank, an active man in all 
local enterprises and public affairs, and an elder in the Presby- 
terian church. This last statement is significant, in view of the 
fact that Mr. Hawley and his New England friends in Catskill 
had probably been members of the Congregational churches in 
their New England homes. These men and their fathers had 
readily made jH-ovision, while they belonged to the established 
cljurch, in Connecticut and other New England states, for per- 
mitting those who wished a different form of worship to organize 
separate churches ; but they theinselves, as they moved west- 
ward, joined the Presbyterian or the Dutch churches, rather 
than multiply denominations in the communities where they 
came. The religious doctrines lield in these bodies were those 
to which the New England men were accustomed ; but they 
often brought along with them a broader intellectual life, and 
a more earnest spirituality. 

In the circumstances, we should expect to find that the sur- 
roundings of Charles Hawley's childhood were as thoroughly 
Puritan as was his descent ; and the expectation is confirmed 
by the facts in the case. The home at Catskill was a tyj)i- 
cal Puritan home, a representativ^e home of its class. It is 
worth while, therefore, to inquire what sort of a home it was. 
A great deal is said nowada3'S, about the sternness and rigid- 
ness of the Puritanism of the last generation and of previous 



- 49 - 

generations ; about its harshness, its bareness of beauty, its 
lack of mirth and joy, its forbiddance of the ordinary pleasures 
of life, its repression of spontaneity on the part of children, its 
cruelty in the matter of the parental use of the rod, and above 
all, its dismal and gloomy Sabbath observance. If a person is 
irreligious or dissolute, many seem to regard it a sufficient 
explanation of this to say that it is by revulsion from the 
strictness of his Puritanical training. The notion seems to be 
prevalent that the Puritans lived in plain homes, and wor- 
shiped in plain churches, not because they had learned to be 
content with the limited means which Providence had placed 
at their disposal, but by reason of their hardness of taste, and 
their perverse dislike of the beautiful. The latest information 
of this sort which has reached us, is that the Puritans were too 
stiff and ungenial to drink wines and liquors together moder- 
ately, like good fellows, and therefore formed, instead, such 
habits of hard drinking as made the total abstinence reforma- 
tion a matter of absolute necessity to them. 

Representations of this sort, if they are true, promise pretty 
hard lines for our friend Charles Hawley, during his boyhood, 
in his typical Puritan home. If they are true, then I have evi- 
dently reached a painful part of my subject. I shall not dis- 
cuss the question whether they are true ; I shall simply give 
two or three pen-pictures, containing Dr. Hawley's testimony 
in the matter. He was there, and had opportunities for know- 
ing. He was an honest man, of good memory and judgment, 
and therefore qualified to state what he knew. I make but two 
or three brief extracts from his autobiography; it would be 
easy to make a dozen of like character. In contrast with the 
grim, straight-laced Puritan house-father of the present style 
of literature, see what our friend says of his own Puritan 
father : 

" He had a great flow of spirits, enjoyed humor, and was a 
good laugher. He loved young company, and his presence 



- 50 - 

was never a bar, but rather a spur to all healthful ami innocent 
enjoynnent. He was an indulgent father, and vet we children 
knew, T can hardly tell how, there was a line which mast not 
be crossed. He was moreover a generous host, an(i took a 
heart}' plea,sure in entertaining his friends at his table, which 
in the earlier times, when as yet the temperance lecturer was 
not abroad, did not lack the accompaniment of the choicest old 
Cognac and the " nutty " Madeira. I can now sec my father, 
on such occasions, with the very glow of hospitality in his 
whole manner, making every one around him happy, and draw- 
ing his pleasure not so much from the feast, as from the enjoy- 
ment ma,nifested by those whom he would serva Those were 
strange old davs. Free as liquor was on the sideboard, on the 
dinner table, * * ->^ X never saw either host or guest or 
any one within the dear old home, who could be suspected of 
having lost his wit or reason, much less of being intoxicated." 

Evidently, the set of people whom little Charles Hawley saw 
at his father's home were mirth-loving, jovial, convivial, and 
temperate. If their Puritanism had a sour-visaged aspect, it 
must have turned in some different direction from that in 
which we have looked at it. May it possibly be that they were 
opinionated men, ready to crucify some temperance reformer, 
if he had come among them, because his doctrines contradicted 
theirs ? The answer is ready. The temperance reformer came 
to Catskill. Elder Hawley, trafficker in ardent spirits that he 
was, received him to the hospitality of his home, listened to 
his arguments, and banished intoxicating beverages from his 
table and from his business. A similar course was pursued, 
in those days, by men of like antecedents with Ezra Hawley, 
in hundreds of American villages. 

On the whole, things look more and more unpromising for 
the little boy. Since the Puritanical sternness found no vent 
in these more public directions, we are prepared to find it con- 
centrated in the bringing up of the family. With some shrink- 
ing for fear of the possible answers we may receive, we are led 
to inquire whether the rod was faithfully used, whether the boy 



- 51 - 

■was regularly talked with twice a week in regard to his lost 
condition, and his wickedness in not being elected out of it, 
whether his life was made wretched by the disagreeable means 
used to render him properly moral and religious, and especially 
whether he got a double dose of all this on Sundays, begin- 
ning at sunset of Saturday. We need not have been anxious 
over our question. Dr. Hawley's prompt reply to it is found 
in the following excerpts : 

" My boyhood is filled with sunny memories. The restraints 
of home were those of love ; and I have now no recollection 
of anything in the way of force, in all my home discipline. 
Doubtless I tried the patience and indulgence of my parents in 
many ways, but I am not conscious of anything like willful 
disobedience to their known wishes. These had the power of 
a positive command. Our Sabbath began with Saturday eve- 
ning, and was as strictly observed as at any New England 
home. But such was the impression made upon me by the 
mingled piety and gentleness of my father and mother, that I 
have none of the repulsive memories of which some speak, in 
recalling the rigid ness of the old Puritan discipline."' 

And again : 

"The whole family economy was pervaded with the spirit of 
religion, and at the same time it was never a restraint upon 
that cheerful enjoyment, and that large indulgence of innocent 
pleasures which made our home so attractive to ns, and now 
serve to invest it with such happy memories. The Sabbath 
began with us, after the manner of the New England observ- 
ance, at sundown, Saturday. The store was closed ; all of us 
were expected to be at home ; no visitors were allowed to 
divert preparation for the Sabbath. We went with father and 
mother to the prayer-meeting, which they never failed to attend, 
or remained quietly at home. The day was kept holy ; no sub 
ject of week-day concern was ever introduced; no book, except 
of decided religious character, or the bible, was suffered to be 
read. We never thought of staying from church, whatever 
the weather, and the whole discipline was so a matter of course, 
that we never thought of questioning its propriety, or complain- 
ing of its rigidness. It was the same with morning and even- 



- 52 - 

ing family prayers ; they wore not in any sense things of com- 
pulsion, but a part of the family arrangement, like our daily 
meals. In short, religion was the law of the house, and we 
would as soon have thought of complaining that we had a home, 
as that it was a religious home. From my earliest recollection 
it was never otherwise. And yet I do not now remember that 
my father ever talked with me directly or personally on the 
subject of religion. There was no occasion that he should, to 
convince me of the necessity of religion, or of his desii'e that I 
should be a Christian. I never had any other idea." 

The home at Catskill was not the only Puritan home with 
which the child Charles Hawley was familiar. Once a year, 
usually, he was taken to visit his relatives in Connecticut, 
dividing four weeks between his father's friends in or near 
Bridgeport, and his mother's friends at Norfield. Of these vis- 
its he says : 

" Those were halcyon days, among uncles, aunts, and cous- 
ins, eight or ten to a family, the old folks grave in habit, quaint 
in their ways, but kind and gentle, always glad to see their 
friends, never weary of their stay, and administering their gen- 
erous hospitality in an easy, every day style, which made you, 
for the time being, one of the family." 

No doubt some of the homes of our Puritan forefathers were 
pretty disagreeable places for the little children who had to stay 
in them ; but so are a great many homes where they do not 
keep the Sabbath or have family prayers. That the ordinary 
Puritan home was not of this sort, but was, with all its strictness, 
a sweet, glad, happy place for boys and girls to grow up in, a 
place where they were trained to a genuine appreciation of 
beauty and refinement and geniality, as well as to knowledge 
and virtue and religion, might be proved, not by the recollections 
of Charles Hawley alone, but also by those of very many middle 
aged and elderly people now living in nearly every American 
community. 

One of the results of this home training, in the case of Dr. 
Hawley, was the peculiarly tender and affectionate relations 



-53 - 

whicli always existed between him and his parents. I resist 
the temptation to quote his language concerning this. His 
father died in 1855, after which his mother resided with him 
until her death, in Auburn, in 1877. 

HIS CONVERSION. 

Concerning the boyhood of our friend, I add one more passage 
from his own pen, a passage which gives a glimpse, first of his 
school life, and then of his religious experience, as a boy of 
twelve years of age. After naming, with expressions of appre- 
ciation, several of the teachers whose instructions he enjoyed, 
he mentions one — the only severe one among them — of whom 
he says : 

''The unlucky boy that was caught in a whisper was imme- 
diately arraigned at the desk, and told to hold out his hand, 
which the teacher grasped firmly around the fingers, bending 
up the palm for some half a dozen rapid blows with his hard 
maple ruler some two inches wide and half an inch thick. I 
think I should know that old ruler by sight anywhere to this 
day ; certainly I have the most vivid recollections of its peculiar 
quahties ; the sting it left so many times on the hand with 
which I write this seems even now to tingle along each nerve 
of the burning palm. This teacher had red hair, and I remem- 
ber him as rather quick tempered, and in my simplicity I was 
wont to regard all men of red hair with pecuHar aversion. A 
change came over him, however, and the whole discipline of the 
school, in the great revival of 1831 ; and one morning, as the 
school assembled, he told us in simple and tender words his new 
experience as a Christian, and then, for the first time, opened 
the school with prayer, after reading a scripture lesson. He 
read the tenth chapter of Romans, and commented in the light 
of his own fresh experience on the verses: 'Say not in thine 
heart. Who shall ascend into heaven, that is, to bring Christ down 
&c,' I was then scarcely twelve years of age, and came to 
school that morning greatly troubled about my sins, and ear- 
nestly desiring to know what it was to believe in Christ. A 
clear light came in upon my mind at that part of the passage 
which says : ' The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in 



- 54 - 

thy heart, &;c.' It was a happy day for master and pupils, and 
one which stands out singularly prominent in my memory. 
Shortly after, I united with the church, under the venerable 
Dr. David Porter, — when he was permitted to gather the har- 
vest of his own sowing, in the accession of a hundred or more 
to the communion of the church on a single communion Sab- 
bath." 

This was what might have been expected as the outcome of 
the religious' home training, and a happy result of that training 
it was. It was a sudden conversion, indeed ; and there are many 
who are suspicious in regard to sudden conversions. But such 
a sudden conversion as that of the boy Charles Hawley, a con- 
version which consists in the clear recognition of personal re- 
sponsibility, and therefore of personal sinfulness and need, and 
in view of this of the intelligent, conscious, clear acceptance, 
once for all, of Christ as Saviour and Master, is a spiritual ex- 
perience which every thoughtful person must respect, and must 
count as of the highest value ; and which every religious person 
is compelled to recognize as a genuine work of the Holy Ghost. 
Not less genuine was the s}iiritual change, sudden though it 
were, which led to the substituting of the law of love for the 
thick maple ruler, in the discipline of Charles Hawley's auburn- 
haired schoolmaster. 

HIS EDUCATION. 

It seemed to me desirable to treat somewhat in full of these 
early surroundings, in the midst of which the character of our 
friend was formed, even at the cost of being obliged to dismiss 
with a few cursory sentences, all that portion of his life which 
passed between his childhood and his settlement in Auburn. 
His boyhood was divided between study, work, and the usual 
outdoor sports. In hunting, fishing, swimming, skating, and 
the like, he experienced at least his full share of adventures, 
and of hairbreadth escapes. He entered Williams college in 
1836, graduating in 1840. He was president of the Social 
Fraternity, received the valedictory in his class, and was elected 



- 55 - 

to the Phi Beta Kappa society after graduation. During a time 
of especial rehgious interest in the college, shortly before he 
completed the course, his own religious life was decidedly 
renewed. This had something to do with the fact, that a few 
months later, he gave up his intention of studying for the law, 
and entered the Union Theological Seminary, in New York 
city. 

I am the less reluctant to pass thus hastily over his college 
and seminary experiences, since, at the approaching anniver- 
saries of the Union seminary and of Williams college, to be 
held in May and June next, papers commemorative of him will 
be read. 

HIS WORK AT NEW ROCHELLE AND AT LYONS. 

He graduated from the seminary in June, 1844. For three 
months he supplied the American church in Montreal, Canada, 
whose pastor, the Eev. Caleb Strong, was then traveling in 
Europe. Immediately upon the expiration of this engagement 
he became pastor of the Presbyterian church in New Rochelle, 
N. Y., near his home in Catskill, where he remained four years. 
During his pastorate, the church grew in membership and in 
financial strength. At the time of his leaving, plans for erecting 
a new church edifice were being laid. Some years later, these 
plans were successfully carried out. Dr. Hawley always remem- 
bered with great pleasure his pastorate in New Rochelle. The 
historical and social atmosphere of this delightfully situated 
old Huguenot town was congenial to him, and made a lasting 
impression. 

In 1848, Mr. Hawley removed from New Rochelle to Lyons, 
N. Y., where he had a pleasant and successful pastorate of ten 
years. The church, previously divided, became united and 
strong. A new church edifice was built. The community was 
blessed with revivals of religion. It is no wonder the people 
were reluctant to part with their pastor, when, twenty-eight 



- 56 - 

years ago, he was called to the First Presbyterian church in 
Auburn. 

On the tenth of September of 1850, Mr. Hawley was married 
to Miss Mary Hubbell, of Lyons. A happier or more beauti- 
ful married life has seldom fallen to the lot of man. 

The years of Mr. Hawley's residence in Lyons, and the few 
years that followed, were years of excitement in public affairs, 
far beyond anything that has occurred in the last two decades. 
The great questions connected with American slavery were 
forcing themselves more and more prominently upon public 
attention ; and during the years from 1852 to 1855, the ques- 
tion of prohibitory law, in most of the northern states, became 
so prominent that, for a time, it pressed even national issues 
into the background. Mr. Hawley, while avoiding all needless 
controversy, was outspoken in his utterances on public ques- 
tions. Li the campaign in which Myron Clark, prohibitionist, 
was elected governor over Horatio Seymour, democrat, and 
Millard Fillmore, know-nothing, Mr. Hawley preached two 
sermons on the "Maine Law," which caused, for the time, a 
great sensation in the community. Then and afterward he was 
equally unambiguous in regard to the " Higher Law " doctrine, 
in the conflict over slavery. Of necessity, he sometimes gave 
offense, in dealing with these affairs. It is not a little to the 
credit of his manliness and his wisdom, that the alienations 
thus caused were seldom permanent. 

The circumstances which led Mr. Hawley to accept the call 
to Auburn were in a marked degree providential. He had 
previously refused overtures from many places, including 
Geneva, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, and St. Paul. In some of 
these previous instances, his decision to remain in Lyons had 
been determined by his love for the people there, and his wish 
to remain with them, together with their judgment and that of 
the Presb3^tery that he ought to remain, rather than by his own 
judgment as to what was best It was by these circumstances 



- 57 - 
that lie was held there till the call from Auburn reached him. 

HIS PASTORATE IN AUBURN. 
Dr. Hawley's principal work in Auburn was that which he 
did as pastor of the First Presbyterian church. The last sermon 
that he preached before his death was the anniversary sermon 
that marked the beginning of the twenty ninth year of his pas- 
torate. Probably he had never been stronger in the united love 
of his people, or in his influence over them, than on that day. 
As a preacher, he fed the people. I suppose that two classes 
of his sermons are remembered with especial interest by those 
who were accustomed to listen to him. Those of one class were 
sermons which more or less touched upon public affairs, either 
in the way of direct treatment, or for illustration of other themes. 
Several of these discourses were published.* They showed 

*It would not be easy to make a complete list of Dr. Hawley's published works. I 
have learned of the following : 

1. Address introducing Mr. Seward, 1865, published, with Mr. Seward's address on 
the same occasion, in a pamphlet, and republished in Mr. Seward's works. 

2. History of the First Presbyterian Church in Auburn, 1869. 

3. Memorial Address for the Hon. William H. Seward, 1873. 

4. In Memoriam, James S. Seymour, 1875. 

5. Jesuit Missious Among the Cayucjas, 1870. 

C. Memorial Address for the Hon. Henry Wells, 1879. 

7. Biographical sketch of Col. John L. Hardenbergh. the fli-st settler of Auburn, 
1879. This was published in the first volume of the Collections of the Cayuga Co. His- 
torical Society, introducing Col. Hardenbergh's Journal, with General John S. Clark's 
notes thereon. 

8. Early Chapters of Cayuga History, 1879. This is No. 5, with extensive correc- 
tions, notes, and additions, especially a map and notes by Gen. John S. Clark. 

9. Public Health and Sanitary Reform, 1880. 

10. Centennial Address at Aurora, N. Y., 1880. 

11. Ecclesiastical and Civil Relations of a local Presbyterian Church, 1881, as chair- 
man of a committee of Cayuga P^'esbytery. 

12. Anniversary Sermons, many of these published in tlie local papers ; the sermon 
for the year 1882 was published in a thick pamphlet, with other matters, connected 
with the celebration of the completion of the twenty-fifth year of his pastorate. 

13. Annual Addresses before the Historical Society, especially those on Iroquois 
antiquities, beginning with 1881. Those for 1881 and 1882 are in the Collections No. Two 
of the Cayuga County Historical Society, and were likewise bound as a separate pam- 
phlet. 

14. Early Chapters of Senera. History, with annotations, including a map and notes 
by Gen. Clark, forming the body of Collections No. Three, 1886. 

15. Early Chapters of Mohawk History, published in the Auburn Advertiser in 1885 
(the previous works of this kind were also originally published in this paper). It has 
since been annotated, and is substantially ready for publication in more permanent 
form. 



- 08 - 



breadth of thought, and practical familiarity with affairs, such 
that some of his friends sometimes thought that he should have 
been a statesman rather than a preacher. The sermons of the 
other class were simple, plain presentations of the common doc- 
trines of the gospel, always in excellent literary form, but with 
little else to distinguish them. They were utterances of com- 
mon truths, never commonplace, and yet as far as possible from 
being pretentious. He had a voice of marked sweetness and 
power, and an unaffected earnestness of manner, that will long 
be pleasantly remembered by those who love him. 

In his pastoral work, he displayed a thorough business-like 
understanding of what needed to be done, and was punctual 
and faithful in doing it. It was a gift that must often have 
served him in good stead, that he knew how to listen, as well 
as how to speak. He made very little fuss and display in the 
doing of a great deal of work. He was wise enough to avoid 
acting prematurely. He could wait till the time came, even at 
the cost of being thought slow ; and when the time came, he 
was usually ready. He was sympathetic without being demon- 
strative, and helpful without being oflticious.* 

During his pastorate, the church was blessed with several 
seasons of revival, and with large accessions to its member- 
ship ; but the keeping up of its own membership is only a 
very small part of the work done by such a church, and is 
therefore only a partial indication of the success of its pastor. 
Some of his work outside the church we shall presently con- 
sider. On March 7, 1869, the First Church worshiped for the 
last time in its old edifice, which it had occupied for fifty-two 
years, and which was then pulled down and re-erected as the 
Seymour Chapel, now Calvary Church, in the growing eastern 
part of Auburn, while on its old site was erected the present 

*An appreciative characterization of Dr. Hawley's methods as a preacher and pastor, 
from the pen of his fellow pastor, the Rev. S. W. Boardman, D. D., for many years 
in charge of the Auburn Second Church was pubHshed in the New York Evangelist 
of Dec. 10, 1885. 



- 59 - 

handsome stone edifice of the church. On that occasion, Dr. 
Huwley preached a historical discourse, which was afterwards 
published with notes and additions. In 1882, a celebration 
was made of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his pastorate, an 
account of which, including his anniversary sermon for that 
year, was published, in a pamphlet of eighty-two pages. From 
these pamphlets and from other sources, it would be possible 
for any one who wishes, to learn very fully of Dr. Hawley's 
work, and of the estimation in which he was held. 

DR. HAW LEY AS A PRESBYTERIAN. 

Dr. Hawley's influence in the Presbyterian Church was not 
confined to Auburn. In the church at large he was known for 
his thorough fidelity to Presbyterian doctrine and polity. For 
nearly twenty-five years, he was stated clerk of the Presbytery 
of Cayuga; discharging his duties with the most punctilious 
exactness. His books, always neatly written, and always at 
the meeting of synod, never failed to be fully approved. He 
was a member of the general assembly at which the revised 
book of discipline was sent down to the churches, was on the 
committee which had charge of that matter, and rendered ser- 
vices whose value was widely recognized. He loyally sub- 
mitted to the decisions of the church judicatories, in the few 
instances in which they were contrary to his judgment. An 
instance of this is the adoption by the First Presbyterian church 
of its present custom of re-installing elders and deacons. 
Since 1876, Dr. Hawley has been one of the trustees of the 
Auburn Theological Seminary, and has been especially useful 
and prominent in that board. His prominence in these and 
other matters connected with Presbyterianism in America has 
not remained without recognition. In 1861, Hamilton College 
conferred upon him the decree of Doctor of Divinity, and he 



- 60 - 

has constantly been the recipient of expressions of the confi- 
dence felt in him by his brethren.* 

HIS INTEREST IN AUBURN INSTITUTIONS. 

The public institutions of Auburn will miss him greatly. 
His relations to the Seminary we have just considered ; those to 
the Historical Society are reserved for future consideration. 
But he was also one of the corporate members of the Seymour 
Library Association, founded by his friend, James S. Seymour, 
and its vice-president from the beginning of its existence. 
With the work of the Young Men's Christian Association, 
with that of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, with 
that of each of the beneficent charities of our city, he was in 
hearty and helpful S3"mpathy. As Auburn has grown, since 
his coming among us, hig presence and influence have been an 
element more or less affecting for good all the growth of the 
city. 

THE CITIZEN PASTOR. 

If the times were stirring while Dr. Hawley was at Lyons, 
they became yet more so after he moved to Auburn. In 1856, 
the republican party made its first national campaign, with Fre- 
mont for leader. That was the year before Dr. Hawley came 
among us. Three years after his coming, in 1860, Abraham 
Lincoln was elected president. Dr. ^awle3^ like every other 

*In a letter published in the Evangelist of Jan. 21,*1886, the Kev. Henry Kendall, D. D., 
speaking of Dr. Brown, formerly president of Hamilton College, who died Nov. 4. 1885, 
relates the following interesting incident : 

" He called on me, and as there was to be a meeting of the trustees at Hamilton Col- 
lege within a few days, we agreed that we ought to have a trustee from Auburn to fill 
the place of Dr. Gridley of Waterloo, just deceased, and that we would support Dr. 
Charles Hawley for the place. Poinding soon after that I could not be at that meeting, 
I wrote out m}' estimate of Dr. Hawley, and sent it to Dr. Brown, to use in the board if 
need be, and the letter reached his home a few hours after his death. The board did 
not elect a trustee at that meeting, and in less than two weeks after the meeting of the 
board. Dr. Hawley himself had also died. Thus the names of these three men, Drs. 
Brown, Gridley, and Hawley, will hereafter be linked together in my memory." 



- 61 - 

American citizen who had convictions and was governed by 
them, took an interested part in these movements. Politics 
had become, for the time being, no longer a matter of contest 
between political parties, but a struggle between moral right 
and moral wrong. The spiritual teachers of men could not be 
indifferent, or hold their peace, while such battles were raging. 
As a general thing, they made their influence felt, boldly and 
effectively ; and no minister of the gospel was bolder or more 
effective, or at the same time wiser than Dr. Hawlcy, In 1861 
the civil war broke out ; Lincoln was inaugurated ; William 
H. Seward was made secretary of state. The first regiment of 
volunteers recruited in this vicinity, afterward known as the 
" old nineteenth," attended service in the First Presbyterian 
Church, the Sabbath before leaving for the field, and were 
addressed by the Pastor from the words : " Be of good cour- 
age, and let us play the men for our people and the cities of 
our God," 2 Sam. x, 12. In the various regiments afterward 
raised, the congregation of the First Church was well repre- 
sented, often by its active church members, and its most prom- 
ising young men. Not long after the opening of the war. Dr. 
Hawley preached a course of sermons on the duties of citizens, 
and especially the duty of obedience to law. These sermons 
are not yet forgotten. To myself they have an especial inter- 
est, as my acquaintance with Dr. Hawley began at about this 
time, and these were, with a single exception, the first sermons 
of his to which I listened. 

Dr. Ilawley's interest in public affairs was not diminished 
by the warm personal friendship which existed between him 
and Secretary Seward. When Mr, Seward made his visits home 
from Washington, Dr. Hawley was one of the first friends with 
whom he met and talked. Frequent visits were exchanged; 
the whole political and military situation was earnestly dis- 
cussed ; Dr, Hawley 's position, the interests which he repre- 
sented in the community, and his readiness to take pains that 



- 62 - 

he miglit be of service, rendered him, in Mr. Seward's opinion, 
a valuable counselor. Mr. Seward thought of him as being 
not only the pastor of the oldest church in Auburn, and a lead- 
ing clergyman, but as a public-s[)irited citizen, in whose judg- 
ment and sagacity his fellow townsmen had confidence, and 
who was able to do much to mould public opinion, and shape 
and direct public action. 

In 1864, Mr. Seward came to Auburn to cast his vote for 
the re-election of Abraham Lincoln as president. On the 
evening of November 7, he addressed an audience in Auburn 
on the issues of the election. This address is now to be found 
in the fifth volume of Mr. George E. Baker's edition of Sew- 
ard's works, page 505. On the afternoon of the following day, 
having cast his vote, he started on his return to Washington, 
taking with him as guests, Dr. Hawley and Messrs. James S. 
Seymour and Richard Steel. An account of this visit, in Dr. 
Hawley's handwriting, is still in existence, and should be 
printed.* Mr. Seward went with them to the office of President 
Lincoln, who treated them with the most informal cordiality, 
and told them a story ; under guidance provided by Mr. Sew- 
ard, they inspected the interior of several of the departments 
at Washington ; they crossed the lines of the Potomac, taking 
the prescribed oath of allegiance ; they enjoyed the delightful 
hospitality of the secretary's Washington home, and on Satur- 
day started on their return Auburnward. 

Eleven and a half months later, the citizens of Auburn paid 
Mr. Seward a visit at his residence in this city, and very nat- 
urally selected Dr. Hawley as their spokesman on that occasion. 
His address and that of Mr. Seward in reply were published in 
pamphlet form, and also appear in the volume of Mr. Seward's 
works already cited, on page 516. The intervening months 
had been eventful. On the 31st of January, 1865, the national 
house of representatives had passed the bill for submitting to 

*Kead before the Hist. Soc, Jan., 1887. 



- 63 - 

the states the thirteenth amendment of the constitution, thus 
making it certain that the freeing of the slaves, already accom- 
plished by President Lincoln's proclamation, was lo remain a 
permanent and inviolable fact. Sixty seven days later, the 
army of Lee surrendered to General Grant, and the war of the 
rebellion was over. Yet six days later, assassins took the life 
of Abraham Lincoln, and attempted that of Mr. Seward, who 
escaped only by a hair-breadth, with wounds whose scars he 
carried to the grave. 

Mr. Seward had been spending some time at home, for recov- 
ery and rest. He was now about to return to Washington. 
He was to face the problem of the rehabilitation of the seceded 
states ; a problem in many respects, graver than any which had 
preceded it; a problem whose difficulties were enhanced by the 
fact that the president with whom he had to deal, was no longer 
Abraham Lincoln, but Andrew Johnson; and by the fact that 
he must now face the opposition, not only of secessionists and of 
political opponents, but of all the little great men of his own 
party. The words of Dr. Hawley on this occasion, with those 
of Mr. Seward in reply, are marked by a feeling of personal 
tenderness, a breadth of view, and an exaltation of sentiment 
worthy of the men and the time. 

In October, 1867, a treaty was agreed upon at Copenhagen, 
providing for the ces.-ion of St. Thomas and other Danish 
West Lidia Islands to the United States, Among its articles 
was one looking to the submission of the question to the popu- 
lar vote of the inhabitants of the islands, both governments 
deeming it advisable that the transfer, if made, should have 
the sanction of the people most deeply, interested. Commis- 
sioners were accordingly appointed to proceed to the islands to 
take the votes. The Danish government appointed Commis- 
sioner Carstensen, and our government Dr. Hawley. In the 
election, the vote stood 1,2-i-l in favor of annexation to the 
United States, and only 28 against annexation. The treaty 



- 64 - 

was ratified in the Danish parliament, but failed of being 
approved in tlie senate of the United States. Neither Mr. 
Seward, liowever, nor Dr. Hawley are to blame that those valu- 
able islands do not now belong to our country, 

A believer in omens might well imagine that the powers of 
nature in those islands resented the proposed transfer of sove- 
reignt}^ After the election,as the commissioners were preparing 
to start on their return, the islands, especially St. Croix, where 
Dr. Hawley then was, were visited by an earthquake, with a 
hurricane and tidal wave, working fearful destruction of life and 
property. Among other incidents described by Dr. Ilawlev in 
his letter, the United States ship of war Monongahela was lifted 
from her anchorage about half a mile oflf shore, and thrown high 
and dry on the beach.* 

In other affairs, public and private. Dr. Hawley was associated 
with Secretary Seward. It was peculiarly fitting, therefore, 
that, after Mr. Seward's decease, the Young Men's Christian 
Association of Auburn, through a committee consisting of 
principal John E. Myer, Byron C. Smith, and Henry Hall, in- 
vited Dr. Hawley to deliver before the association an address 
commemorative of the life and work of onr distinguished towns- 
man. The address was given Feb. 19, 1873, and published en- 
tire in the Auburn Advertiser of the following day. One of the 
few copies of it still in existence is among the possessions of 
the Historical Society. 

VACATIONS, 

Thus far we have been watching Dr. Hawley in the various 
phases of his work. No one understood better than he that 
play, as well as industry, is essential to the best living. In my 
own recollections of my first winter in Auburn, no picture is 
more vivid than that of Dr. Hawley, Professor Hopkins, James 
R Cox, esq., the Rev. Henry Fowler, and other distinguished 

♦See Appendix I. 



- 65 - 

citizens, some of them with their wives, as well as with the 
young men and women of their familes, skating on the big dam, 
with hundreds of their fellow citizens, including, of course, all 
the small boys in iVuburn, or skating in more select parties on 
the Owasco lake. That was before there was a rink in Auburn, 
when good ice depended on the weather, and when, conse- 
quently, })rime skating on the big dam was understood to have 
the precedence of all other ordinary engagements. 

It was while seeking recreation that Dr. Hawley found some 
of the most important parts of the work of his life. In 1823, 
when he was four years old, his father and his father's friend, 
Mr. Beach, had organized a company for building the now cel- 
ebrated Mountain House, in the Catskills. The Mountain House 
was Charles Hawley 's summer home, from childhood. He was 
associated with all its traditions from the beginning. His inti- 
mate relations with it did not cease when the property was 
purchased by Mr. C. S. Beach, the son of his father's friend. 
Mr. Beach says : 

" When T purchased the property, I told him it might still 
be a summer home for himself and family. I knew him from 
infancy ; to a great extent we were co-travelers and co-workers ; 
a strong brotherly feeling of esteem and love existed between 
us; I liked to give him pleasure, and he liked to receive pleas- 
ure at my hands." 

Thus came about a condition of things with which we were 
all familiar. In the months of June and July of each year, our 
friend Dr. Hawley suffered from hay fever. In the beginning 
of it, it would seem as if he had caught a cold, affecting the 
nasal passages. Then his nose swelled, and his eyes became 
watery. When we met him, he smiled and we smiled, though 
not in the sense which a stranger might have imagined, from 
the growing redness of his face. These symptoms were to him 
the intimation that the time had come for his summer trip to 
the Catskills. There the troublesome symptoms vanished ; he 



- 66 - 

rested from the labors of his usual calling ; he himself became 
to his fellow guests one of the attractions of the place. Among 
other things, it is said of him : 

" Dr. Hawley was a great walker, and found great pleasure 
with congenial companions in rambling over and among the 
mountains, opening new paths and ways to the grand and beau- 
tiful in which the region abounds. Ilis .familiarity with the 
topography and points of interest enabled him to give pleasure 
and gratification to others, thus heightening his own."* 

HISTORICAL STUDIES. 

Dr. Hawley looked upon his historical studies, much as he 
looked upon his summer trip to the Catskills, as a form of 
recreation. He held that every man should have some side 
line of pursuit, which might serve to divert his mind from the 
graver work of his habitual vocation. For himself he found 
this side line of pursuit in historical researches. He was a his- 
torian, indeed, by nature and by habit. This more or less col- 
ored all his work. In anniversary and other memorial dis- 
courses preached by him, he has put on record the history of 
the First Church, and largely that of this community. He may 
fairly be said to have followed a historical method in conduct- 
ing funerals. If his short discourses on funeral occasions have 
been preserved, and could be collected, they would constitute 
an invaluable body of historical and biographical material. 
Early in his pastorate, he adopted systematic measures for 
securing trustworthy information concerning the men with 
whom he was associated. His own autobiography was written 
in the carrying out of these measures. It is to his taste for 
historical study, and his appreciation of the importance of 
placing historical material on record, where it can be found for 
use, instead of allowing it to vanish in oblivion, that our Cay- 
uga County Historical Society owes its existence. But while 

♦Letter of Mr. C. S. Beach. 



- 67 - 

all these things are true, and while they show that Dr. Hawley 
put serious labor into his historical studies, it is yet none the 
less true that he regarded these studies as merely auxiliary 
and for diversion, while the pastorate of the church and the 
care of souls was to him the one great work of his life. 

I must omit all details respecting the part he took in found- 
ing this societ}^ and respecting his service as its president dur- 
ing the first decade of its existence. This I could not properly 
do, except for the fact that these matters have been fully and 
competently discussed and placed on record in the addresses 
made at our memorial meeting, held the 28th of November 
last,* and in the admirable address of Mr. William H. Seward, 
his successor in office, at our annual meeting held last month. 

THE IROQUOIS AND THE JESUIT MISSIONS. 

I must not, however, pass by the most important historical 
work done by him, namely, his calling attention to the history 
o[ the Iroquois tribes, and to the work of the Jesuit mission- 
aries among them. It was during one of his summer vacations 
at the Catskill mountain house, that his friend Mr. Lenox, of 
New York, conversed with him respecting this field, and put 
him into possession of important literature on the subject. 
This circumstance, together with his relations to certain citi- 
zens of Auburn and of Cayuga County, had much to do with 
leading him to the investigations which ultimately proved so 
fruitful. But it is in itself also an interesting fact that this 
son of the Puritans should thus become the historian of the 
Jesuits. 

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his famous ninety-five theses 
to the door of the castle church. Seventeen years later, in 
1534, Ignatius Loyola and his six companions took the vows 

*See Auburn papers of Dec. 1, 1S85. The addresses referred to are printed in pp. 3-44 of 
these Collections (pp. 3-20 of this memorial pamphlet). 



- 68 - 

which constituted them the founders of the society of the 
Jesuits. Tlie movement headed by Luther, and that headed by 
Loyola, differed widely in many respects, but they were alike 
protests against evils then existing in the religious world. 
They were also alike in the intense vitality and earnestness 
that characterized each of them. One of the manifestations of 
this new life, both among Roman Catholics and Protestants, was a 
revived interest in the work of the conversion of heathen peoples 
to Christianity. To the men thus interested, the then newly 
discovered continent of America afforded an attractive field 
of operations. The Jesuits were doing missionary work in 
Brazil as early as 1550. In 1556, John Calvin and the 
church at Geneva sent fourteen religious teachers with the 
Huguenot colony that came to Villegagnon, near Rio Janiero 
(McClintock and Strong, vol. vi., page 356). In 1564, the 
Huguenot colony in Floi'ida had for one of its aims the con- 
version of the natives. John Giimary Shea says that Roman 
Catholic missionary efforts attended the expeditions of De Soto, 
in 1539, and of Menendez in 1565. Nowhere did this mission- 
ary zeal make itself more manifest than across the belt of 
country through which now runs the Canada frontier. The 
Puritan colonies in New England, and the French colonies in 
Canada, alike kept in mind from the first the idea of the con- 
version of the natives. 

According to the first paper in our Historical Collections Num- 
ber Three^ the first Roman Catholic missionary within the pres- 
ent limits of our state was the Franciscan Father Joseph 
dela Roche Daillon, who visited the Neuter nation, then living 
on both sides of the Niagara river, in 1626. At that time the 
associates of the ancestors of Dr. Hawley's father were seeking 
the charter which they finally obtained in 1628, the charter of 
the Massachusetts colony. Their seal, when they obtained it, 
bore as its device an Indian uttering the Macedonian cry : 
" Come over and help us" (Library of Universal Knowledge 



- 69 - 

x:30). Already in 1621, Eobert Cushraan, an associate of 
Dr. Hawley's maternal ancestor, John Alden, had written to 
England of Indian converts near Plymouth (Ibid.). In IGiG 
occurred the martyrdom of Isaac Jogues among the Mohawks. 
From 1642, John Megapolensis of Albany had been making 
endeavors to evangelize the Mohawks, and in time, numbers 
of them were received to the membership of the Dutch church 
in Albany.* Meanwhile, during these same years, and in some 
instances earlier, Koger Williams, Thomas Mayhew, Bourn, 
John Eliot, and others, were laboring among the natives of 
New England. The Jesuit Relations used by Dr. Hawley cover 
the period from 1632 to 1672. At this later date, just before 
the breaking out of King Philip's war, it is said that there were 
4,000 praying Indians within the limits of the New England 
colonies, including fourteen settlements in the colony of Massa- 
chusettSjf — Indians who had made progress in civilization, who 
practiced agriculture and trade, and who had their own con- 
gregations and native preachers, and the Bible translated in 
their own language. 

It is true that the missionary work of both Jesuit and Puritan, 
was largely rendered fruitless, through the rum, the greed, and 
the immorality of adventurers and public men, French, English, 
and Dutch ; it is further true that the Protestant and Roman 
Catholic differed widely both in their methods of work, and in 
the kind of the immediate results which they sought ; but it is 
equally true that, in the matters of personal heroism, of devotion, 
and of skillful working for a purpose, the Jesuit, the Baptist, the 
Dutchman, and the Puritan alike made records that are simply 
maonificent. 



*Once. at least, Jogues owed his escape from a violent death to the influence of this 
Protestant Dutch pastor and missionary. 

+"When King Philip's war broke out, there were in the fourteen towns in Massa- 
chusetts, some 1,150 praying Indians, as they were called, besides others in the other 
colonies— in all perhaps 4C00." Richard Markham's Narrative History of King Philip's 
War, page 100. See also Library of Universal Knowledge x : 30. 



- 70- 

In one important respect, the Jesuits have had greatly the 
advantage of their Protestant contemporaries. From the begin- 
ning of their operations in America, thej were an organized 
body — probably the most strongly organized body on the earth, 
with resources like those possessed by great nations ; and with 
arrangements for preserving full records of their doings, written 
from their own point of view. The Protestant laborers, on the 
other hand, were comparatively unorganized, with small re- 
sources, less careful in preserving the records of their work. 
When Dr. Hawley undertook his studies in this direction, he 
had access, in his own library or in those of his friends, to sets 
of the reports made by the early Jesuit missionaries. There 
had been a time when the Relations had become rare books, dif- 
ficult to obtain for use; but they were in existence, and capable 
of being restored to the public ; and this fact renders the work 
of the Jesuits far easier to trace than that of most of their con- 
temporaries of the 17th century. 

Dr. Hawley's successive historical productions were published 
in the Auburn Advertiser^ before appearing in pamphlet form. 
The first of them was " The Jesuit missions among the 
Cayugas," published as a pamphlet in 1876. It was simply a 
translation of selections from the Relations, with a few not 
very important notes explaining the selections. This was repub- 
lished in 1879, with notes and enlargements, the latter including 
a map and many valuable notes by General John S. Clark. In 
the same year, the Historical Society published the journal of 
Lieut. Hardenbergh, and extracts from other journals, giving an 
account of Sullivan's campaign in 1879, with notes and maps 
by Gen. Clark, and a biographical sketch by Dr. Hawley. At 
about the same time occurred the centennial celebration at 
Aurora, commemorating events in General Sullivan's campaign, 
with the publication of Dr. Hawley's address at the celebration. 
Then came the successive annual addresses, from 1881 on, made 
up of matters pertaining to Iroquois antiquities, and along with 



- 71 - 

these, the successive installments of the " Early Chapters of Sen- 
eca History." These have been extensively annotated since their 
first publication, the annotations including a map and many notes 
by General Clark, and will soon appear in our Cayuga County 
Historical Society Collections No. three. In 1884 and 1885 
Dr. Hawley was publishing his " Early Chapters of Mohawk 
History." This work, yet more important than either of the 
preceding, has been subjected to the same processes of annotation 
and map illustration with the others, and it is to be presumed 
that, when the Society is ready to publish it, the copy will be 
forthcoming. The publication of the last section of it in the 
Advertise!- was the last woi-k done by Dr. Hawley before he died. 
He intended to complete the series by similar works on the 
Onondagas and the Mohawks. It is to be hoped that some one 
will be found to take up this unfinished labor of his, and also 
that the sections already done will be published by some one in 
more popular form. 

These translations, themselves, are but a small part of the 
work which Dr. Hawley has accomplished in making the trans- 
lations. Another might have made the same selections and 
turned them into English, without at all approximating to the 
results which he has reached. He has succeeded in getting the 
ear of the public, and calling the attention of Roman Catholic 
and Protestant alike to these portions of our history. As his 
work progressed, he came into correspondence with other men, 
distinguished in similar studies. He became a medium through 
whom Cayuga county men, who had collections of books or of 
objects, or who were otherwise interested in local history, were 
brought into communication with one another, and with distin- 
tinguished men at a distance. It came to be the case that when 
a farmer anywhere in this vicinity ploughed up an old medal 
or other aboriginal relic, he sent word to Dr. Hawley concerning 
it. He stimulated the work of all individual collectors, and 
of all historical societies, in the region formerly inhabited by 



- 72 - 

the five nations. Many were eager to join him, so far as they 
conld, in these studies. I am not well enough informed so that 
it would be fair for me to undertake any account of his rela- 
tions with his co-laborers ; he himself mentions, with especial 
expressions of appreciation, the help of Mr. T. P. Case in trans- 
lation work, and the collections of rare and valuable maps and 
books and other objects, as well as the personal assistance, of 
Mr. John H. Osborne and General John S. Clark. It was 
especially an important thing that Dr. Hawley did so much to 
place the chain and compass of General Clark, and the big brain 
of their owner, at the service of men who are engaged in the 
study of American history. 

It is not merely, therefore, that Dr, Hawley translated a few 
pages of the old French of the Jesuit Relations into English 
but that, in so doing, he became the centre of a movement in 
American historical studies. In the course of the movement, 
through the labors of the men engaged in it, many hundreds 
of sites have been located ; the locating of them has thrown 
light upon the meaning of such old records as existed ; the 
old records and the local traditions have thus been brought 
together so as to interpret one another, and be interpreted by 
the topograph}^ ; in fine, whole sections of local history have 
been changed from a half-intelligible, and therefore obscure and 
uninteresting condition, into a clear and living body of facts. 
He who should compare the " Jesuit Missions Among the Cay- 
ugas," as published in 1876, with the works that have succeeded 
it, could not fail to see the progress that has been made. 
In much that ten years ago was vague and uncertain, we are 
now able to sift the true from the false, and to see the events, 
truthfully and vividly, as they occurred. 

There is something well worth notice in the appreciation 
which Dr. Hawley 's efforts have met. In his publications con- 
cerning the Jesuits, he abstained from criticising their methods, 
or drawing comparisons between them and others. He simply 



- 73 - 

selected those parts of the records that were best worth read- 
ing, and then let them tell their story in their own way. His 
point of view was that of an American citizen, interested in 
all great deeds that have been wrought on American soil, and 
as proud of all that was admirable in these men, as if he had 
been separated from them by no bar of difference of creed. I 
have heard the spirit he thus displayed spoken of as if there 
were something rare and remarkable in it. Doubtless it is less 
common than it ought to be, but I do not tliink it is very un- 
common. Test this statement for an instant. Some scores of 
times. Dr. Hawley's work respecting the Jesuits has been men- 
tioned in the secular papers, and in those of the Protestant 
denominations,! and often in terms of warm admiration ; can 
any one point to a single instance in which leading Protestants 
have found fault with it, on account of his kindliness of spirit 
toward the Jesuits? Certainly, we do not approve the things 
that seem to us wrong, in the Jesuits and in their deeds and 
teachings ; we earne^itly hold that our disapproval is not mere 
prejudice, but an intelligent verdict, founded on evidence. 
But this circumstance constitutes no reason why we should be 
blind to any great or good achievements they have accom- 
plished ; we know that we ought to admire them when they 
deserve admiration; we mean to do it, and we think that we 
succeed in awarding to them a fair and candid appreciation. 

It is pleasant to put on record the fact that Dr. Hawley's 
services were not unrecognized by Roman Catholics. When 
he died, kind things were said of him in the churches of that 
persuasion in the city.* Three clergymen of the Roman church, 
and many of their parishioners, were present at the funeral 
services in the First Presbyterian church. f Distinguished 
Roman Catholic clergymen wrote, expressing their apprecia- 
tion of the man and their regret for his loss.* It goes without 

*See Appendix II. 

tSee the accounts of the funeral, published in the Auburn papers of Dec. 1, 1885. 



- 74 - 

saying that all manifestations of this sort are gratifying to 
every patriotic American. The theological differences which 
part us are fundamental : we are never likely to ignore or to 
compromise them ; but we fought together, shoulder to shoulder, 
when we saved the union : we ought to be fighting together 
now against intemperance, and against public corruption, and 
against illiteracy, and against the growing tendencies to com- 
munism, and against all other forms of social evil. Unless 
Roman Catholic and Protestant can join hands for overthrow- 
ing the common enemy, our country is in grave and imminent 
peril. If we were well united for these aims, where is the form 
of organized evil that could stand before us for a moment ? 
If Dr Hawley's work has contributed something to a better 
understanding between us, that is one of the great things which 
his life has accomplished. 

HIS CATHOLICITY OF SPIRIT. 

Dr. Hawley's catholicity of spirit was not displayed toward 
men of the Roman church only. During his pastorate, the 
Presbj'terian churches of the city increased in number from 
two to five, and he vYas a sort of senior pastor in every one of 
them. He succeeded in making his young fellow pastors for- 
get his seniority of position, in the love and respect they paid 
him for his friendliness and his personal worth. The churches 
of other denominations in the city increased in number and in 
strength, but the}'' never outgrew the mutual cordiality that 
existed between them and the pastor of the First church.* If 
our Jonathan had a David, to whom he was knit more closely 
than to any of the rest of us, that David was Dr. Brainard, 
the rector of St Peter's church, and next to himself the senior 
pastor in the city. If this intimacy had any influence on the 
feelings of the rest of us, it was not that we loved Jonathan 
the less for it, but that for his sake we loved David more. 



*See Appendix ni. 



75 - 



THE END. 



The career of our friend closed suddenly. A completed 
year of pastoral labor, with its customary anniversary sermon ; 
three days later, a completed section of his work on Iroquois 
history ; a day later, a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, 
attended by a swift recognition of the fact that the time of his 
departure was at hand, and that he was ready to go; then a 
few days of partly conscious existence, not unattended by hope 
on the part of his friends ;* and then, on the evening of Thanks- 
giving day, the final closing of his eyes. His funeral was 
thronged by clergy and citizens of all classes and all religious 
persuasions. The six clergymen who carried the casket were 
of five religious denominations. The services were conducted 
by his tried friends. Dr. Hogarth, of Geneva, whom he had 
known longest, and who had officiated at his marriage, with 
Professors Huntington and Hopkins of the seminary, and Dr. 
Brainard. The following Sunday evening a memorial service 
was held in the First church. Dr. Brainard presided. In it 
participated the faculty of the seminary, the chaplain of the 
state prison, and the pastors and people of fourteen of the city 
churches, of eight different ecclesiastical connections.f Few 
men in Auburn have ever been as much honored, and none 
iiave ever been so honored with demonstrations of posthumous 
respect, as Dr. Hawley. And in his case, these ti-ibutes were 
spontaneous. They expressed the verdict of his fellow citizens 
concerning him. He was a gifted man, and a good man ; but 
especially he was a man who aimed to be useful to his fellow 
men, rather than to exercise power over them ; who desired to 
be loved and to love others, rather than to be admired by them ; 
and v/ho, consequent!}^, was powerful as well as useful, and won 
admiration as well as love. 



*Accounts of the seizure, and notes of his condition from day to day may be found 
in the files of the Auburn papers. 
+See Appendix IV. 



APPENDIX. 



Note. — This appendix is not a general collection of interest- 
ing utterances by Dr. Huwley or concerning him. It is not 
even a representative selection of such utterances. At the 
time of his illness and death, and afterward, notices of him 
appeared in the dispatches of the Associated Press, in the edi- 
torial columns, the correspondence, and the news columns of 
the several local papers, and of the New York Evaivjelist^ the 
Philadelphia Presbyterian, the Utica Morning Herald, and several 
other papers secular and religious. Official action was taken 
by the Presbytery to which he belonged, by the church of 
which he had been pastor, by some of the other Presbyterian 
churches, by the several Boards of the seminary, by various 
other Boards and Societies with which he was connected, and 
by bodies that were interested in his historical researches. 
Notices of him appeared in the memorial papers of the insti- 
tutions at which he graduated, or which be served in some 
fiducial capacity. Many private letters concerning him were 
received by his friends. If all these materials, so far as they are 
suited for publication, were printed in full, they would form a 
volume of some size. A reasonably full selection from them, 
so made as fairly to represent the whole, would be dispropor- 
tionately bulky for a pamphlet like the present one. 

In fine, the first and the last of the following five articles are 
appended because of their distinctive character ; the interve- 
ning three, as interpreting what is said in the memorial address 
in regard to the attitude of the different Christian bodies in 
Auburn toward Dr. Hawley. 



- 78 - 



Note on Page 64. 



Extract from a Letter of Dr. Hawley^ from St. Croix, 
Nov. 20, 1867. 

" I write you after two days of most fearful excitement, now 
partially allayed. Monday, at about three o'clock P. M., the 
island was visited by an earthquake, which with brief intervals 
of quiet has continued until nine o'clock this morning. The 
first shock was the heaviest, and was so terrible that no words 
can convey to you the awful scene. Not a breath of air stirred 
in the burning heat ; the sun was pale, and the sky of an ashy 
hue ; a rushing sound, and then the earth rocked, so that it 
was diflficult to keep one's feet, the whole shock lasting about 
a minute and a half. It seemed as if the earth must open and 
swallow us up. I was in the court yard of the Government 
House, the only place of escape from the reception room of the 
governor, where we were awaiting an interview with him by 
appointment, and from which we ran down a long flight of stone 
steps, the vastbuilding rocking like a cradle. The marble pave- 
ment literally waved like water under our feet ; the trees swayed 
to and fro as if in a tempest, though the air was still as death. 
I thought of none in the awful moment but the dear ones at 
home, and lifted a prayer that God would be merciful. 

Scarcely had the shock ceased, when a cry of terror was 
heard in the street, and on passing out the gate of the court- 
yard, we met the people flying panic-stricken to the more ele- 
vated parts of the town, for the sea was coming in like a wall 
of water some thirty feet high, and threatening to engulph the 
town. Here was a new peril, but it was quickly over, though 
great damage was done, and some lives lost. It was in this 
way .that the Monongahela, our noble ship of war, lying about 
half a mile from the shore at anchor, was in about three min- 
utes thrown high and dry upon the beach. Buildings have 
been thrown down, or so rent as to be unsafe ; and almost every 
conceivable injury inflicted, which an earthquake could produce. 

The night was one of great terror. Every few minutes a 
shock of greater or less severity would come, until the welcome 
morning. The whole population which is largely negro, was in 



- 79 - 

a state of passionate excitement, screaming, praying, not daring 
to remain in their homes, and scarcely trusting the ground on 
which they stood. Some two or three thousand came in from 
the country estates, excited, bewildered, and reckless. A strong 
police force, with the soldiers, prevented plunder. The shocks 
were repeated through Tuesday, keeping up the fearful uncer- 
tainties \as to the ultimate result. We could not tell from one 
hour to another what might occur. The earth was in a constant 
tremor during the intei'vals of the shocks, and it was by no 
means difficult to think that the island might disappear at any 
moment. The sense of insecurity was awful. The sickly look 
of the sun and the ashen paleness of the sky, with the whole 
unnaturalness of the face of nature continued. The heat was 
intense. Sulphurous fumes were distinctly detected. The sec- 
ond night was, with some alleviations, a repetition of the first. 
But to-day we are hoping the worst is over. 

The Susquehanna with Admiral Palmer came over from St. 
Thomas this morning. The disaster has been even more severe 
there." 



II. 

Note on Page 73. 
From the Auburn Daily Advertiser of December 1, 1885. 

"In St. Alary's Roman Catholic church, Sunday morning, 
Rev. Father Mulheron referred to the death of Rev. Charles 
Hawley, D. D., in the following terms: 

It may not seem the place to speak the eulogy of a Protes- 
tant from a Catholic pulpit. Especially may it seem strange 
when the object of it is a Protestant minister ; but in the case 
of Rev. Dr. Hawley, who lies dead at this moment, I feel that 
an exception can and ought to be made. He was a gentleman 
of the highest order of social and intellectual qualities, and a 
citizen truly worthy of the esteem and love of all. For us 
Catholics, lie was a man who was superior to all petty preju- 
dices, dealing with our church and its history in that spirit of 



- 80 - 

justice which is at once the product of a large mind and of a 
heart loving the truth. We owe him a deep and lasting grati- 
tude, and it is our great loss, as it is that of this community, 
that death has taken him from us. His Relations of the early 
Jesuit missions is written with an elegance and ease which 
speaks of ripe scholarship, and so Catholic is it in its tone that 
I commend it to jou as a book of great merit. Every family 
ought to possess these memoirs as it tells the story of the early 
missionaries and their labors, in a manner to entertain old and 
young and to interest and edify all. Would that we had more 
men of Dr. Hawley's stamp, to break down the cold barrier of 
social and religious prejudice, and to lead men to that common 
fellowship which ouglit to be the distinguishing feature of our 
American citizenship. Whatever manner of respect you can 
show to the memory of this noble gentleman, I hope you will 
display it, for he is certainly deserving of it in no ordinary 
degree. 

And at the church of the Holy Family, Rev. Father Sey- 
mour, before closing his sermon, said that in Dr. Hawley's 
death a great loss had been sustained, not only by the people 
over whom he had presided for over twenty-eight years, but by 
the people of Auburn in general, and Catholics in particular. 
Catholics of the state owe to Dr. Hawley a debt which they 
could never repay, for placing before the public the true history 
of the suffering and exposure and martyrdom of the early 
Catholic missionaries. The Catholics of Auburn should sym- 
pathize with his family in their bereavement, and he trusted 
that the First Presbyterian church will be blessed with a succes- 
sor worthy of him." 



From " Letters to the Editor,^'' Daily Advertiser^ Dec. 8, 1885. 

"St. Joseph's Church, \ 
Tkoy, Dec. 1, 1885. \ 

Mr. Oeo. R. PecJc, Editor of the Auburn Daily Advertiser : 

Dear Sir : — Through your paper of the 27th ult, I received 
the sad news of Dr. Hawley's death. He sent me, last April, 



- 81 - 

two very kind letters in relation to his interesting works, the 
" Early Chapters " of the Cayuga, Seneca and Mohawk history. 
He took a deep interest in the early history of the state of 
New York, and with a very liberal mind brought to light, in 
the English language, the wonderful works of the Jesuit fath- 
ers in North America. 

T personally and deeply regret the death of Dr. Hawley ; his 
historical knowledge and his pen would have been very useful 
in our present work, the early mission of the Jesuit fathers in 
the Mohawk valley, and most particularly the Beatification of 
the Eev. Isaac Jogues, S. J., Rene Goupil, S. J., and Cather- 
ine Tegakonita, the Iroquois virgin. Dr. Hawley said in one 
of his letters to me, last April. ' I read the Pilgrim with special 
interest.' 

General Clark of Auburn, J. G. Shea of New York, and Dr. 
Hawley have [been] great friends and great helpers in the cause 
of Father Isaac Jogues. 

Please accept this tribute of respect and esteem in favor of 
Dr. Hawley. 

Truly and respectfully yours, 

JOSEPH LOYZANCE, S. J." 



III. 

Note on Page 74. 

From the Advertiser of December 1, 1885. 

" An unusually large congregation attended divine service in 
St. Peter's church, Sunday. In the course of his sermon, the 
rector. Rev. Dj-. Brainard, made touching allusion to the decease 
of his co-laborer in the ministry, Rev. Dr. Hawley, referring to 
his lovely and symmetrical character, and to the fact that the 
deceased had honored him with his friendship for twenty-three 



-82 - 

years. He closed by reading the following memorial, which 
was adopted by a rising vote of the whole congregation : 

To the Congregation of the First Preshyterian Church, Auburn, N. Y.: 

Greeting : — The rector, wardens and vestry of St. Peter's 
church, Auburn, N. Y., with the congregation assembled for 
worship on Sunday, Nov. 29, 1885, having heard that it has 
seemed good to our Heavenly Father to call to the rest of par- 
adise our friend and brother, the Rev. Charles Hawley, D. D., 
pastor of the First Presbyterian church of this city, desire to 
express their profound sympathy with the afflicted family and 
bereaved church, in this dark hour of grief. 

Three years ago we rejoiced with you in the celebration of 
the twenty-fifth anniversary of a pastorate so honora:de alike 
to pastor and people ; and now in the sad trial and deep sorrow 
which come from the knowledge that the pastor is taken from 
the flock which he so gently led in green pastures and beside 
still waters, and that his beloved face will never again be seen, 
nor his kindly voice be heard within the earthly temple, we 
would weep also with you who weep. 

May the God of all the families of the earth send to the 
widow and the fatherless, the rich treasures of his divine com- 
fort; and to that dear home and church alike grant the peace 
and sweet assurance which are treasured in the words of Holy 
Scripture: 'I heard a voice from Heaven, saying unto me, 
Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead who die in the 
Lord ; even so saith the Spirit ; for they rest from their labors 
and their works do follow them.' 

' They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firm- 
ament and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars 
forever and ever.' 

In behalf of the vestry and people of St. Peter's church, 
Auburn, N. Y. 

JOHN BRAIN ARD, Rector. 
Fked I. Allen, Clerk. 

Many moistened eyes were seen as the touching services 
closed with singing the 260th hymn from the Hymnal, ' Asleep 



- 83 - 

in Jesus, blessed sleep.' Prayers for the afflicted family were 
offered and selections from the burial office read, closing with 
the benediction." 



From the Advertiser of December 4, 1885. 

"The pastor and officiary of the Wall street Methodist 
Episcopal church met last night and adopted the following 
resolutions : 

Whereas, The Rev. Charles Hawley, D. D., late pastor of 
the First Presbyterian church, Auburn, has been called from 
toil to rest, from the church militant to the church triumph- 
ant, therefore be it 

Resolved^ That having recognized in Dr. Hawley a faithful 
and honored ambassador of our Lord Jesus Christ, a kind and 
loving brother, and a wise counselor ; we desire to express 
our profound sympathy with the bereaved family and afflicted 
church in this dark hour of trial. 

In behalf of the church and congregation, 

THOxMAS SHARPE, Pastor. 
Dec. 3, 1885." 



- 84 - 
IV. 

Note on Page 75. 

At the Memorial Service a printed program was used, the 
contents of which were as foll<')ws : 

FIRST P»GE. 

PASTORS' 

MEMORIAL SERVICE. 

Sunday Evening, December 6, 1885. 

* 

IN MEMORY OF 
REV. CHARLES PIAWLEY, D. D. 

Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. 

Auburn, N. Y. 

1857—1885. 

4, 

Born August 19, i8ig. 

Died November 26, 1885. 

" He being dead yet speaketh.^'' — Heb. ii : 4. 

SECOND PAGE. 

Pastors and Churches Participating. 

Rev. John Brainard, D. D., Rector St. Peter's Episcopal Church. 

Rev. F. A. D. Launt, - Rector St. John's Episcopal Church. 

Rev. Jos. K. Dixon, . - - Pastor First Baptist Church. 

Rev. D. Moore, D. D., . _ - - .Second Baptist Church. 

Rev. G. P. Avery, - - - Pastor First Methodist Chmch. 

Rev. Thomas Sharpe, - Pastor Wall St. Methodist Church. 

Rev. W. H. Allbright, - Pastor Second Presbyterian Church. 

Rev. C. C. Hemenwav, - Pastor Central Presbyterian Church. 

Rev. F. H. Hinman, - - Pastor Calvary Presbyterian Church. 

Rev. a. S. Hughey, Pastor Westminstet Presbyterian Church. 

Rev. J. J. Brayton, - - - Pastor Universahst Church. 

Rev. a. S. Hale, . . - - Pastor Disciples Church. 

Rev. Geo. Feld, - - Pastor St. Lucas' German Church. 

Rev. G. C. Carter, - - - - Pastor A. Z. M. E Church. 

Rev. Wm. Searls, D. D., - - - - Chaplain Prison. 

Prok. E. a. Huntington, D. D., - Theological Seminary. 



-85^ 

THIRD PAGE. 

SERVICES. 
Organ Prelude. 
" Abide with me." 

Scripture. — Psalm 90 ; 2 Cor. 5 : i-io. 
Memorial Hymn, - - - Flagler. 

PRAYER. 

Sentence, " Blessed are the dead." 

ADDRESSES. 

" It is not death to die." 1203. 

ADDRESSES. 

" Let saints below in concert sing." 852. 

ADDRESSES. 

" My Jesus as thou wilt." 992. 

BENEDICTION. 
FOURTH PAGE. 

" They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and they 
that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever." — Pan. 12 : 3. 

" I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith :" 
— 2 Tim. 4 : 6. 

4- 

" Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : Yea saith the 
Spirit that they may rest from their labors ; and their works do follow them. — 
Rev. 14: 13. 

REV. JOHN BRAINARD, D. D., Presiding, 

For twenty-two years associated with Dr. Hawley hi friendship atid the work of 

the Gospel ministry in this city. 



The service as actually held differed from that aiiDounced in 
the program, mainly in the fact that Drs. Moore and Searls 
were not able personally to be present. The following account 
of it, is, with a few abbreviations and other changes, that pre- 
pared by the reporters of the Advertiser and published in the 
issue of that paper of December 7. That report .sa)^s of the 
congregation : . 

" It was composed of the representatives of all creeds hav- 
ing a foothold in the city, and was in every sense a representa- 



- 86 - 

tive audience. Tt was an occasion unprecedented, perhaps, in 
the church history of Auburn. Much feehng was manifested 
and the spoken tributes to the departed from the city's pastors 
were in the tenderest strain. Long before the bell had ceased 
to toll the spacious auditorium was densely packed with a 
sympathizing people. 

The pastor's large chair was heavily draped, and also the 
pulpit. Two bunches of calla lilies, tied with white ribbon, 
on the back of the chair and in front of the pulpit, contracted 
with the deep mourning with which they were surrounded." 

The platform was occupied by the clergymen who partici- 
pated in the services. The scripture lesson was read by Pro- 
fessor Welch of the Theological Seminary, and the prayer 
offered by Professor Beecher. 

DR. BRAINARD 

was the first speaker, and he said it was because of his long 
association (extending over a period of twenty-two years) with 
Dr. Hawley, that he had been chosen to preside at this meet- 
ing. He would rather have occupied a humbler position in 
this house of God tonight, and mingle his tears with those 
that suffer a great loss. We are here to-night, said Dr. Brain- 
ard, to testify of our great love and admiration for him who 
.so long occupied this pulpit and filled this place so well. We 
are here to ascribe glory to God for the gift of such a brother, 
for the blessed gift of grace which so equipped him for his 
noble work, and for the ability with which during all these cir- 
cling years, he tilled joyously the place in this community as pas- 
tor, teacher, guide, and public-minded citizen. We are assem- 
bled to testify to our loss, and to our sympathy for the afflicted 
family. How thoroughly did Dr. Hawley, as a Christian minis- 
ter and as a citizen, fulfil the duties of his calling ! He was not 
ashamed of the gospel of Christ, and held it up as the only 
cure for the sins of the world. It is not our purpose to pre- 
sent any lengthened sketch of his character. More time and 
preparation than we now have at our disposal would be 
required. We are here as a band of pastors to give God the 
glory of his life. I think of him to day as full of rest and 
peace in the paradise of God, with those with whom he has 
held sweet communion and seen them pass to their reward. 



- 87 - 

I think of him as one who has washed his robes in the blood 
of the Lamb. We should not have this earnest man pass from 
our midst and we not be better. God help us to live honest 
Christian lives and to go home as calmly and triumphantly as 
did our dear brother. 

DR. SEARLS. 

Dr. Brainard then read a letter from Dr. Wm. Searls, 
reo-retting his ^inability to be present on account of ill health. 
He said in his letter : " None could hold Dr. Hawley in higher 
esteem than myself, and it would afford me a mournful pleas- 
ure to be with you, and take some part in the service. I have 
known Dr. Hawley intimately for the past twenty years, and a 
nobler and truer 'friend I never found. His catholic spirit 
manifested itself everywhere, and at all times. His charity 
was as broad as the gospel he so long and faithfully preached, 
and his sympathy knew no bounds." 

REV. J. J. BRAYTON 

was next introduced, and after saying that he was standing on 
holy ground, said that he was a better man for having known 
Dr.' Hawley. He said that when he came here a stranger, he 
found a brother and friend in Dr. Hawley, and he had often 
thought that if he were sick and dying he would like to have 
Dr. Hawley come and pray over him, for since his mother died 
he had never listened to a prayer that impressed him as did 
that of Dr. Hawley. This man wore no disguises. To know 
him brieilv was to know him thoroughly. In his address was 
courtesy without studied style. Men are like coins, however 
garnished on the exterior, they have no value except in the 
quality of the material. His" joy and sorrow, his sympathy 
and love, and his religion were all genuine. In his presence, 
passion ceased to rage. Because of the genuineness of his 
character his influence increased with the radius of_ the years, 
Mr. Brayton said : Show me a man who is a true friend and I 
will guarantee him in all other things. It is as a true friend 
that we must mourn his loss. Such men are rare. He belongs 
to the common family of those on earth and those in heaven. 

REV. A. S. HALE 

next spoke and said that his acquaintance with Dr. Hawley was 



- 88 - 

slight, but in all he had seen and read and heard of Dr. Haw- 
lej, his Christian manhood had most impressed him. This was 
the highest possible praise. Those are the truest who live clo- 
sest to the Master. " What I do thou knowest not now but 
shalt know hereafter," Jesus said. It applies to occasions like 
this. Winter goeth before spring, seed time before the harvest, 
and from the dead seed come Vae ripened fruits Jesus himself 
was made perfect by suffering. For us there is no crown with- 
out a cross. 

REV. G. P. AVERY 

then spoke. He said that it frequently happens that the gospel 
minister is called into the home of those who have been visited 
by death, where he may be an absolute stranger. There seems 
but one thing for the friends to do ; they can speak of the vir- 
tues of him whom they mourn ; from this the minister comes 
to understand in some degree their loss. It has seemed very 
inappropriate that I, who had never looked into the face of Dr. 
Hawle3% should take part in these services. I never saw him ; 
and yet as I listen to the speeches and words of love and sym- 
pathy from the lips of those who knew him, I feel that I,- too, 
have some idea of the large ])lace he occupied here, and the 
extent of your loss. There is no better proof of his character 
than that Christians of all denominations should come together 
to pay respect to his memory. I know of no better evidence 
of a man's usefulness than when he dies and the multitude 
mourns his loss. 

At the close of Mr. Avery's remarks, the choir and congre- 
gation joined in singing the 1203d hymn, " It is not death to 
die," and then 

REV. F. H. HINMAN 

was introduced, who said that he must speak from the stand- 
point of first impressions, and perhaps the tribute will be the 
greater, though not the tribute of the lips. The characteristic 
which drew him closest tcf Dr. Ilawley was the simplicity of 
his greatness. It is no small thing to take out ot the dull out- 
line of past history, the early Jesuit missions of this state, and 
so arrange it as to be quoted as autliority at the Vatican. But 
it is greater honor to be the honored and successful pastor of 



- 89 - 

such a churcti as this through the long range of twenty-eight 
years. Yet in ti-ie midst of all this greatness was his simpHcity, 
which is the crowning jewel of all greatness. If asked 
to-night to mass in one word the expression of his heart, Mr. 
Hininan said it would be loneliness, because he whom his 
heart had learned to love has gone to the world above us. The 
last sentence of the sermon which Dr. Hawley preached at the 
ordination of the speaker was in these words : " The Spirit is 
lovingly saying, Come ; * ^ * may they both but be the 
growth of that comfordng word, ' Come unto me all ye that 
labor and I will give you rest.' " The Spirit has called him 
and said, "Come unto me." 

REV. G. C. CARTER 

next spoke : " He being dead yet speaketh !" says the bible, 
and true it is, for Dr. Hawley speaks to-night. He is speakino- 
through the pastors and this large congregation. Mr. Carter 
had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Hawley once. When his 
appointment to Auburn was announced, his predecessor said to 
him, " You will find a firm friend in Dr. Hawley." That 
meant no small thing to the speaker, for he was in a different 
situation from the other pastors who have spoken. He was 
placed in a position to feel great love for this great man. Dr. 
Hawley had given him the hand of love, and he felt that he 
was in the presence of a friend. It is the prominent men in a 
community that mould the others. Mr. Carter felt as if he 
and his people had met with a severe loss in his death, but we 
shall be benefited by his life, for he has moulded your minds. 
You ask how I know it? I see it in your faces. 

REV. C. A. SMITH. 

Mr. Carter read a letter from the former pastor of Zion 
church, Kev. C. A. Smith, in which he stated he would like to 
be present at the memorial services, for he esteemed Dr. Haw- 
ley very highly and always found m him a true friend, and a 
friend of the colored race. Dr. Hawley resembled Grod in 
doing good to his fellow creatui-es. The good he has done will 
not be known in time ; it will take eternity to reveal it 



- 90 - 

REV. A. S. HUGHEY 

said it was very fitting that the youngest church in the city 
should be represented, as it was very dear to Dr. Hawley, who 
was chairman of the first meeting called to consider the sub- 
ject of starting a mission in west end. He was also chairman 
of the last meeting of pastors and elders of this city to organ- 
ize another Presbyterian church. He was chairman at all the 
intervening meetings and he was always interested in the enter- 
prise. The speaker had gone to Dr. Hawley for advice and 
obtained it. Westminster church feels her loss ; tlie elders on 
whose heads he laid hands feel the loss. It is Dr. Hawley 
ripened to maturity that I remember. I am glad to haveknown 
him. Westminster joins in your sorrow. 

REV. J. K. DIXON 

said that the next saddest words to " a dead mother," are " a 
dead pastor." I have a tribute I would like to lay upon the 
altar of this memorial service. There were many sides to the 
noble character of this grand man. but I shall speak of but few 
of them. Of his catholicity of spirit, you need no greater dem- 
onstration than is seen in tliis meeting tonight of the pastors 
of the churches of this city. Dr. Hawley did not set the psalm 
of his life to the key of self. Our friend was large in sympa- 
thy and tender in his dealings with men because the gospel of 
Christ was in him. Next I wish to speak of his spirit of 
prayer. He was a profound believer in its efficacy, and at the 
great rink meetings he prayed as though the breath of Heaven 
was streaming through his white hair. The last sermon I 
heard him deliver was from the text, " What shall I do to be 
saved ? * -J*- * Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou 
shalt be saved," preached as only one can preach who is near- 
ing last things. If he were here tonight he would repeat it. 
The mourning of our hearts bids you heed his voice, and the 
pure whiteness of these lilies on this vacant chair bids you 
heed it. His life was a sunny one. Of his boyhood days he 
once said : " I have only sunny memories." Coleridge and 
Ruskin tell us that the leaders of the race were men who kept 
their hearts young. This man's hair was white, but summer 
was in his soul ; winter crept upon his brow, but only spring 



-^1 - 

was in his heart, and he went out with whiteness of snow into 
eternal summer and eternal song of the glory which he had in 
his soul. 

REV. C. C. HEMENWAY 

had been associated with Dr. Hawley during a quarter of his 
ministry to this people, and no words could express the kind- 
ness of Dr. Hawley to the speaker. He had been a blessing to 
him in his ministry. He loved him, though how much he 
never knew until he was gone. Dr. Hawley was not only pos- 
sessed of a rare grace of character in his association with men, 
but he was staunch and true to that branch of the church 
which he espoused. There are many who are all things to all 
men, but nothing to anybody ; not so with Dr. Hawley. He 
was liberal to all yet true to his own, catholic in the true 
sense of the Apostle's creed and faithful to the church in which 
he was born and lived, and he freely contributed his strength 
to its service. He retained his loyalty. He was one of a 
thousand whose catholicity of thought took nothing from his 
loyalty to the Presbyterian church. The other day some one 
asked a gentleman : " Did Dr. Hawley die a Catholic ?" He 
answered : " Yes." Then continuing : " Not a Roman Cath- 
olic, but a ' holy catholic' " God give us more men in the 
pulpit who can be broad without being weak. 

The congregation and choir then joined in singing the 852d 
hymn — " Let saints below in concert sing," when 

REV. GEORGE FELD 

was introduced. He said that if he could speak in his native 
tongue he could express himself more appropriately. The 
first time I saw him I loved him. He won ray heart by his 
kindness when I was a stranger liere. He spoke to me of the 
difficulties I would encounter. He sympathized with our 
church and spoke to his people about us. Not long after a 
gift of $100 was received from the Sunday school of the First 
Presbyterian church. When our church was dedicated. Dr. 
Hawley said that he hoped all Germans who had never gone 
to church would do so then. To me Dr. Hawley has always 
been the same kind friend as on the day I first met him. It 
seemed when I heard of his death that I had lost a kind rela- 



- i^2 - 

tive. Tears of sorrow filled my eyes as I stood by his coffin. 
Dr. Hawley had learned the apostolic commandment. Love the 
brethren and love the brotherhood. May we never forget that 
he set us this example. His heart went out to all of the 
Christian churches. Men of other faith love him. " Blessed 
are the peacemakers for they see God." May this be our lot, 
and may we one and all be gathered with our dear brother in 
the kingdom of God. 

REV. DR. E. A. HUNTINGTON 

spoke of the relations of Dr. Hawley to the seminary. He 
reviewed briefly the exciting times of 1872, when the effort 
was made to remove the seminary to Aurora, and how Dr. 
Hawley with untiring energy labored to secure the necessary 
funds to retain it in Auburn. * * * j)^. Jj^wley 
presided at the frequent meetings of our citizens, and proved 
just the man for the place. Through the sixty days of anxi- 
ety he was calm and hopeful. Without the aid of Dr. Hawley 
I know not how the desired end could have been reached. 
God bless his life and ministry to the seminary, church and cit}^ 

REV. THOMAS SHARPE 

said that the fact that Dr. Hawley is dead is too keenly felt to 
need utterance. Reviewing the expression, we are compelled 
to say he is not dead but lives in greater royalty. He being 
dead yet speaketh. Dr, Hawley possessed a high order of 
social and intellectual qualities. He was a man of great beauty 
and symmetry of character. He was a man of great force of 
character. He always exhibited a christian bearing. The 
grave cannot and will not entomb him. Dr. Hawley's influ- 
ence is and was not confined to his own church and denomina- 
tion. His heart was too large to be contracted b}^ denomina- 
tional views; his influence was not confined to Auburn. The 
leading associations connected with his life in this city would 
form the most fitting monument. Dr. Hawley's influence for 
the betterment of humanity cannot be estimated. You cannot 
confine the influence of such a man to one church, town or 
state. It overbreaks all bounds. He has bequeathed a pre- 
cious legacy to us — a pure, devoted Christian life. 



- 93 - 

REV. W. H. ALLBRIGHT 



was the last speaker. My tribute to Dr. Hawley he said, is 
last because it has reference to the last days of his life. _ ihere 
was a marked preparation for this final end, unconscious to 
himself but noticeable to his family. Frequent allusions to 
death and heaven were on his lips. The church was not with- 
out its mementoes in this regard. People spoke of his growing 
mellowness, and one Sunday not long ago some one said : Dr. 
Hawley brought down heaven in his prayer. Was there no 
significance in the text of his last sermon ? If he could have 
cfosen his own time of departure it could not have been at a 
more suitable time. He died at the post ot duty. His end 
was peace— a fitting close for such a man and such a lite. At 
no time in the last ten years could he have been better spared 
than now. He left this church" a united people. During the 
past years the other churches have needed him to teach catho- 
licity and humility. The community needed his benevolence. 
He has fought the good fight, he has finished his course, he 
kept the faith, and he was called : Servant of God, well done, 

rest from thy labor. in * ta t 

The 992nd hymn was sung, and Rev, 1^. A. D. ijaunt pro- 
nounced the benediction. 

V. 

On Thanksgiving day, Nov. 26, 1885, the congregations of 
the First Presbyterian church and of the Calvary church held 
united services in the edifice of the First church, conducted by 
the pastor of Calvary church. This was a few hours before 
the death of Dr. Hawley, which took place the evening of that 
day. As a part of the services, the choir and congregation 
sang the following hymn, written for the occasion by the Eev. 
Lansing Porter, a member of the congregation : 

PRAYER FOR OUR PASTOR. 

O, God ! on this Thanksgiving day, 

While in thy courts we meet to praise, 
Deem not these mournful notes we sing, 

Discordant with our grateful lays. 



- 94 - 

While countless blessings crown our lives, 

While ail hearts glow with happiness, 
We pause in praise to lift the prayer — 

" O, God ! our stricken Pastor bless !" 

Spare our dear Shepherd, Lord, we cry ; 

This is our plea before thy throne. 
Yet give submissive grace to add — 

" Father ! thy will, not ours be done ?" 

And when his work is finished here. 

The true faith kept, the good fight fought. 

Bestow on him the promised crown. 
When safely over Jordan brought ! 

Bestud that crown with shining stars, 

Seals of his faithful ministry ; 
And grant that he and we may sh'are 

Thanksgiving day eternally ! 

A few days later, Mr. Porter wrote and published a eonipan- 
ion hymn. 

OUK PASTORS BURIAL. 

Oppressed with overwhelming grief, 

With solemn step and bended head. 
We bring to these enshrouded courts. 

O, God ! our well-beloved dead. 

These crowded aisles, this mourning throng, 

Tell of the universal grief ; 
They further speak our christian faith 

That God alone can give relief. 

Where can we go but unto Thee ! 

Submissive to Thy high behest. 
We leave our Zion in Thy care. 

And bear our Pastor to his rest. 

And here we end our mournful strains, 

From bended knees exultant rise, 
And make these vaulted arches ring. 

With loud hosannas to the skies. 

Why should we mourn departed dead — 

Departed dead who die to live — 
Who live to share forevermore 

The bliss our risen Lord will give ? 

W'e glory in our Pastor's life. 

His life of faith and toil and love ; 
We glory in our Pastor's death. 

Translated now to realms above. 

Console the flock he leaves behind ! 

Our Shepherd gone, be Thou our guide, 
Till we shall reach Thine upper fold, 

Pastor and People glorified ! 



CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. 



We, the undersigned, citizens of the United States, residing within the 
County of Cayuga and State of New York, and being also citizens of the State 
of New York, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, do hereby associate 
ourselves and form a corporation, pursuant to the provisions of the Statutes of 
the State of New York, known as chapter 267 of the laws of 1875, as amended 
by chapter 53 of the laws of 1S76. 

The name by which such corporation shall be known in law, is " The Cay- 
uga County Historical Society." 

Said corporation is formed for social, literary and historical purposes, and 
the particular business and objects thereof, shall be the discussion of general 
and local history, and the discovery, collection and preservation of the histori- 
cal records of Cayuga County, aforesaid, comprising books, newspapers, pam- 
phlets, maps and genealogies ; and also of paintings, relics and any articles or 
materials which may or shall illustrate the growth or progress of society, relig- 
ion, education, literature, art, science, agriculture, manufactures, commerce, 
and the trades and professions within the United States, and especially within 
the County of Cayuga and State of New York. 

The principal ofifice and place of business of said Society, shall be in the city 
of Auburn, Cayuga County, N. Y. 

The said corporation shall be managed by seven trustees. The names of 
said trustees for the first year of the existence of said corporation are, Benja- 
min B. Snow, Blanchard Fosgate, James D. Button, Lewis E. Carpenter, 
David M. Dunning, John H. Osborne, and J. Lewis Grant, all of Auburn, 
N. Y. 

It is hereby intended to incorporate an association heretofore existing under 
the name of " The Cayuga County Historical Society," but heretofore unin- 
corporated. 

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the 23d day of 
January, 1877. 
CHARLES HAWLEY, [1.. s.] BLANCHARD FOSGATE, [i.. s.] 

WILLIAM H. SEWARD, [l. s.] JOHN S. CLARK, [l. s.] 
JAMES D. BUTTON, [l. s.] A. W. LAWTON, [l. s.] 

B. B. SNOW, [l. s.] W. D. BALDWIN, [l. s.] 

F. L. GRISWOLD, [l. s.] D. M. OSBORNE, [l. s.] 

J. H. OSBORNE, [l. s.] OTIS M. GODDARD, [l. s.] 

W. A. BAKER, [l. s.] BYRON C. SMITH, [i.. s.] 

D. M. DUNNING, [l. s.] GEO. R. PECK, [l. s.] 

L. E. CARPENTER, [l. s.] JOHN UNDERWOOD, [l. s.] 



- 98 - 

DENNIS R. ALWARD, [l. s.] CHAS. A. SMITH, [l. s.] 

J. W. DUNNING, [l. s.] E. S. NEWTON, [l. s.] 

H. T. KNAPP, [l. s.] J. T. M. DAVIE, [l. s.] 

A. G. BEARDSLEY, Jr., [l, s.] JAS. SEYMOUR, Jr., [l. s.] 

S. L. BRADLEY, [l. s.] D. H, ARMSTRONG, [l. s.] 

C. J. REED. [l. s.] GORTOxN \V. ALLEN, [l. s.] 

SAMUEL W. DUFFIELD, [l. s.] W. H. CARPENTER, [l. s.'j 

NELSON B. ELDRED, [l. s.] F. P. TABER, [l. s.] 



State of New York, } 

- ss 
Cayuga County. \ 

On this first day of February, 1877, personally appeared before me, a Notary 
Public, in and for said county : Charles Havvley, \Villiam H. Seward, James D. 
Button, Blanchard Fosgate, E3enjamin B. Snow, John S. Clark, Franklin L. 
Griswoki, John H. Osborne, William A. Baker, David M. Dunning, Lewis E. 
Carpenter, Dennis R. Alward, Joseph W. Dunning, Horace J. Knapp, Alonzo 
G. Beardsley, Jr., Silas L. Bradley, Charles J. Reed, Nelson B. Eldred, David 
M. Osborne, Otis M. Goddard, Byron C. Smith, Charles A. Smith, John 
Underwood, George R. Peck, John T. M. Davie, James Seymour, Jr,, David 
H. Armstrong, Frank P. Taber, Ed. S. Newton and A. W. Lawton, to me per- 
sonally known to be thirty of the persons described in, and who executed the 
foregoing instrument, and severally acknowledged that they executed the same. 

CHARLES M. BAKER, 
Notary Public, Cayuga County. 



Cayuga County, ss. 
On the 2nd day of February, 1877, personally appeared before me, Samuel 
W. Duffield, Gorton \V. Allen and William H. Carpenter, tome known to be 
three of the persons described in, and who executed the foregoing instrument, 
and severally acknowledged the execution thereof. 

CHARLES M. BAKER, 

Notary Public. 



The undersigned, one of the Justices of the Supreme Court for the Seventh 
Judicial District of the State of New York, hereby consents to and approves of 
the filing of the foregoing certificate. 

Dated Auburn, N. Y., February 2, 1877. CHARLES C. DWIGHT. 

Jus. Sup. Ct., 7th Jud. Dist. S. N. Y. 



BY-LAWS. 



1. The name of the Society shall be, " The Cayuga County Historical 
Society." 

2. The object "of the Society shall be to discover, procure and preserve 
whatever relates to the natural, civil, military, industrial, literary and ecclesias- 
tical history, and the history of science and art, of the State of New York in 
general, and the County of Cayuga in particular. 

3. The society shall consist of resident and honorary, and, corresponding 
members. Resident members shall be nominated by a member in open meet- 
ing, and the nominations referred to the membership committee, which shall 
report thereon at the next regular meeting. A ballot shall then be taken in 
which five negative votes shall exclude. Resident members only shall be enti- 
tled to vote. Honorary and corresponding members shall be elected in the 
same manner. 

4. The annual dues shall be at the rate''of ten dollars each year, payable on 
the first day of February in each year in advance. The sum of fifty dollars 
paid at one time shall be in full for all annual dues during life. A failure or 
refusal to pay annual dues within the three months after the same become due, 
shall work a forfeiture of membership, and the Trustees shall erase the name of 
such delinquent from the roll of members unless said dues shall be paid or 
remitted by a vote of the Society. 

5. The officers of the Society shall be a President, Vice-President, Corre- 
sponding "Secretary,' Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, and seven 
Trustees, all of whom shall be elected by ballot from the resident members 
only, and shall hold their offices for one year, and until others are chosen to 
fill their places. 

6. The annual'meeting of the Society shall be held on the second Tuesday 
in February in each and ] every year hereafter, at which a general election of 
officers shall^^take place. In such election of officers a majority of the ballots 
given for any officer shall constitute a choice ; if no choice is made on the first 
ballot, another ballot shall take place, in which a plurality shall determine the 
choice. 

7. If a vacancy shall occur in any office the same may be filled by the 
Board of Trustees. 

8. The Society shall meet statedly for the transaction of business on the 
second Tuesday of each month, at such hour of the day as may be decided 
upon, unless otherwise ^specially 'ordered. The President, or in his absence, 
the Vice-President, may call special 'meetings for special purposes, the nature 
thereof being fully set forth in the call. 



- 100 - 

g. At the stated meetings of the Society, the following shall be the order of 
business : 

1. Reading the proceedings of the last meeting. 

2. Reports and communications from officers. 

3. Reports of the Board of Trustees, and of standing committees. 

4. Reports of special committees. 

5. Election of members previously proposed. 

6. Nomination of new members. 

7. Reading of papers, delivery of addresses, and discussion thereon. 

8. Miscellaneous business. 

10. Seven members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

11. The President, or in his absence the Vice-President, or in their absence 
a Chairman pro tempore shall perform all the duties pertaining to that office. 

12. The Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of all the correspond- 
ence and perform all the duties pertaining to the same. 

13. The Recording Secretary shall have charge of the seal, charter, by- 
laws and books of record, and perform all the duties pertaining to his office. 

14. The Treasurer shall collect and keep the funds and securities of the 
Society, and they shall be deposited in a safe bank to the credit of the Society, 
and only drawn therefrom on his cheek, for the purposes of the Society, and by 
the approval of the Executive Committee. He shall keep a true account and 
report the same to the Society and to the Finance C'ommittee whenever either 
of them shall require. 

15. The Librarian shall have charge of the Library and be general custo- 
dian of all the books, maps, pamphlets, pictures, and all other property con- 
tributed to the Society. He may receive and arrange articles loaned to the 
Society and sign a receipt for the same to be returned when called for by the 
owners thereof. 

16. Library regulations : 

1. No book or other article shall at any time be lent to any person to be 

removed from the library, except by express consent of the Board of 
Trustees 

2. No paper or manuscript read before the Society and deposited there- 

with, shall be published except by the consent of the Trustees and 
the author. 

3. All members may have access to the rooms at any reasonable times, 

and may consult and examine any book or manuscript except such as 
may be designated by the Trustees. But no person not a member 
shall have such privilege except a donor, or one introduced by a 
member, or by special authority of the Executive Committee. 

4. Any injury done to books or other articles shall be reported by the 

Librarian to the Executive Committee, and the damage shall be 
required for such injury. 

17. The Board of Trustees shall have charge and control of the business 
and property of the Society. 



- 101 - 

The Vice-President shall be ex-officio Chairman, and the Recording Secretary 
shall be Secretary of the Board. They shall have charge and general super- 
vision and management of the rooms and all the property and funds of the 
Society. They shall meet monthly at the rooms, the evening before the regular 
meeting, and four members shall be a quorum to do business. 

The Chairman shall appoint from their number : 
1st, An Executive Committee. 
2d, A Finance Committee. 

3d, A Membership Committee, consisting of three members each. 
4th, A Committee on Rooms. 

18. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to solicit donations and 
contributions, to propose and digest business for the Society ; to authorize dis- 
bursements and expenditures of unappropriated money in the Treasury for the 
payment of current expenses of the Society, and for Library, purchase of books, 
printing and binding ; but no expenditure or liability shall be made at any time, 
exceeding the amount of cash in the Treasury, and the available assets of the 
Society. 

The committee shall have a general superintendence of the interests of the 
Society under the control and direction of the Board of Trustees, and report to 
them as often as may be required. 

ig. The Finance Committee shall examine the books and accounts of the 
Treasurer, and audit all bills and accounts against the Society, and be able to 
report at all times the condition of the Society as to funds, etc. 

20. The Committee on Membership shall report on ail nominations for mem- 
bership before an election shall be had. 

21. The Committee on Rooms shall have the immediate care of the rooms 
and furniture of the Society and shall determine applications for the temporary 
use thereof for other than Society purposes. 

22. The President shall appoint a committee of five members of the Society, 
to which shall be referred all papers and addresses presented to the Society, and 
said Committee shall examine the same, and give notice of the time of the 
reading of any paper before the Society. It shall also be their duty to solicit 
and provide some paper on a subject in the second by-law designated, to be read 
at each meeting ; and shall give public notice of the same. 

23. Amendments or alterations of the By-Laws may be made by a majority 
vote at any regular meeting, provided such amendment or alteration shall have 
been prepared and entered upon the minutes at a meeting held at least four 
weeks previous, with the name of the member proposing the same. 



LIST OF MEMBERS. 



HONORA R Y. 

Hon. Andrew D. White, PIenry Ivison,* Esq., 

Ithaca, N. Y. New York City. 

Hon. Frederick W. Seward, Joseph Thomas, LL. D., 

Washington. Philadelphia, Pa. 

Hon. Henry Farnham, Hon. Samuel R. Wells, 

New Ha\-en, Ct. Wa,terloo, N. \. 

Hon. Roscoe Conkling, Sevellon A. Brown, Esq., 

Utica, N. Y. Washington. 

William P. Letch worth, Esq., \\m. H. Lewis, Esq., 

Buffalo. Katonah, N. Y. 



REST D ENT. 



Rev. Charles Hawley,* 

Gen. William H. Seward, 

Rev. Samuel W. Duffield,! 

Benjamin B. Snow, 

Rev. William Searls, 

J. Lewis Grant,* 

Dennis R. Alward, 

David M. Dunning, 

Dr. James D. Button, 

John H. Osborne, 

Dr. Blanchard Fosgate, 

Lewis E. Carpenter, 

Dr. David H. Armstrong,* 

James Seymour, Jr., 

William G. Wise,* 

Dr. Sylvester Willard,* 

Silas L. Bradley,* 

Frank P. Taber, 



Edward S. Newton, 
William H. Carpenter,* 
Delemar E. Clapp, 
Albert W. Lawton, 
Bradley A. Tuttle, 
Orlando Lewis, 
RuFus Sargent,* 
William H. Meaker, 
Henry A. Morgan, 
N. Lansing Zabriskie, 
David M. Osborne,* 
Otis M. Goddard,! 
Franklin L. Griswold,* 
Byron C. Smith, 
William A. Baker,! 
Charles A. Smith, 
W. Delevan Baldwin,! 
Gorton W. Allen, 



♦ Deceased. 
tRemoved from city. 



- 108 



WaDSWORTH HOLLISTER, 

Edwin R. P"ay, 
Alonzo G. Bkardsley, Jr., 
Charles J. RKEo.f 
David Wadsworth, 
Charles M. Baker, 
Horace J. Knapp, 
George R. Peck, 
Gen. John N. Knapp, 
E. Delevan Woodruff, 
Nelson B. Eldred, 
Charles Standart, 
Charles E. Thorne, 
Joseph W. Dunning, 
Terrence J. Kennedy,* 
Lewis E. Lyon, 
josiah letchworth.f 

E. H. UNDERHILL,f 

Horace V. Howland, 
Ebenezer B. Jones, 
Clinton D. MacDougall, 
Frederick 1. Allen, 
Edward H. Townsend, 
James. R. Cox, 
George W. Elliott, 
WiLLARD E. Case, 
Charles H. Carpenter, 
Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., 
Rev. Charles C. Hemenway, 
Arthur A. Boyd, 
Rev. Prof. Willis J. Beecher, 
Rev. Prof. Ransom B. Welch, 
Rev. W. Hervey Ai.lkright, 
William F. Wait, 
Darius W. Adams, 
Arthur E. Slocum, 
Mrs. Hannah L. Howland, 
Henry D. Woodruff, 



Dr. Amanda Sanford Hickev, 

Mrs. T. M. Pomeroy, 

Mrs. William H. Seward, 

Henry D. Titus, 

James Lyon, 

Richard H. Bloom, 

Joseph N. Steel, 

George R. Cutting, 

George W. Richardson, 

Rev. Joseph K. Dixon, 

Mrs. B. B. Snow, 

Henry T. Keeler, 

Mrs. Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., 

John W. O'Brien, 

Frank W. Richardson, 

Leroy W. Stevens, 

John D. Teller, 

James G. Knapp, 

Mrs. D. M. Osborne, 

Mrs. James G. Knapp, 

Warren A. Worden, 

Thomas M. Osborne, 

George B. Longstreet, 

Thomas Choate, 

Miss 1\L A. West, 

Miss J. C. Ferris, 

Miss T. R. Selover, 

Miss Anna Conover, 

Eber O. Wheeler, 

Dr. Carlos F. MacDonald, 

Dr. Theodore Dimon, 

Mrs. Elizabeth C. Bolter, 

H. Laurens Storke, 

John T. Hemenway, 

Amasa J. Parker, 

Rev. Jay J. Brayton, 

Rev. Prof. James S. Riggs, 

Benjamin M. Wilcox, 



* Deceased. 

+ Removed from city. 



CAYUGA COUNTY 



Historical Society 



COLLECTIONS 



Number Five. 



COLLECTIONS 



OF 



CAYUGA COUNTY 



Historical Society 



AUBURN, N. Y. 



Number Five. 



1887. 






Gift 
T>,e Society 



T K N T H 



ANNUAL ADDRESS 



S K W K RS : 



ANCIENT AND MODERN, 



WITH APPENDIX AXD ILLUSTRATIONS. 



HOBBI ES, 



AND SOME WHICH WE HAVE RIDDEN IN iS86. 



AUBURN, N. Y. 
I 887. 



TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY COPIES. 

6. 



Nl'MBKR 



Knapp, Peck & Thomson, 

Book, Job and Commercial Printers, 

Auburn, N. V. 



CONTENTS 



Page. 

Officers Cayuga County Historical Society. - - - - - VI 
Tenth Annual Address, ... - - IX 

By Wm. H. Seward. 



Sewers : Ancient and Modern, 5 

By Cvrenus Wheeler, Jr. 
Illustrations by Frank R. Rathbun. 

"Hobbies" — and some we have Ridden in 1886, . =. . 107 

By Wm. H. Seward. 



OFFICERS. 



President, 
WILLIAM H. SEWARD. 

Vice-President, 
BENJAMIN B. SNOW. 

Corresponding Secretary, 
FRANK W. RICHARDSON. 

Recording Secretary, 
DAVID M. DUNNING. 

Treasurer, 
NELSON B. ELDRED. 

Librarian, 
JOHN H. OSBORNE. 

Historical Secretary, 
D. WARREN ADAMS. 



TRUSTEES. 

John H. Osborne, Nelson B. Eldred, 

Lewis E. Lyon, Frederick I. Allen, 

D. Warren Adams, Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., 

John N. Knapp, Charles M. Baker, 

David M. Dunning, Frank W. Richardson, 

James Seymour, Jr., John W. O'Brien, 
Willis J. Beecher, D. D. 



COMMITTEES. 

On Papers. — Lewis E. Lyon, Willis J. Beecher, Frank W. 

Richardson, Charles M. Baker, Thomas M. Osborne. 
Executive. — John H. Osborne, C. Wheeler, Jr., Willis J. 

Beecher. 
Finance. — D. M. Dunning, John N. Knapp, John W. 

O'Brien. 
Membership. — James Seymour, Jr., Nelson B. Eldred, 

Frederick I. Allen. 
Room.— H. D. Woodruff, D. W. Adams, W. H Meaker. 



TENTH ANNUAL ADDRESS, 

BY WM. H. SEWARD. 



February 8, 1887. 



ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 



We enter to-night upon our eleventh year, and it is with 
pleasure that we find the Cayuga County Historical Society in 
a most prosperous condition. Our roll of active meinbers 
exceeds in number that of any previous time. Local interest 
in our work has never been greater than it is to-day, and the 
store of valuable and instructive matter which we have already 
accumulated continues to increase as the society becomes older. 
The historical papers and addresses delivered before the associa- 
tion within the past ten years, now number between sixty and 
seventy, embracing a wide range in the local history of our city 
and county, marking their growth, prosperity or depression 
from the time of the arrival of that rather mythical individual, 
" the first settler" down to the present day. 

Younger members have joined us of late, and their vigorous 
influence is already felt in the work of building up and sus- 
taining our organization, " Old men for council ; young men 
for action," is a familiar saying, and if it be true, may have its 
application here, except that none of us would be quite willing 
to be classed with the " old men." 

The number of ladies (I should much prefer to say women if 
custom would tolerate it, because I deem the latter the most 
dignified title) joining our society, or attending its meetings, has 
considerably increased within the year, adding their inspiring 
presence and encouragement to our work, and it is earnestly 
hoped that before long some of them may be induced to con- 
tribute to our literary papers. 

Burke says : "In history a great volume is unrolled for our 



lO TENTH ANNUAL ADDRESS. 

instruction, drawing the materials of the future for the past 
errors and infirmities of mankind." 

Certain it is that history never stops, and if we carry out well 
the objects of our society, we shall find plenty to do, not only 
in searching out the most interesting facts of past local history 
before they shall fade out of memory of those now living, but 
also of faithfully recording the important incidents of the ever 
passing present, as they occur from day to day, before they 
too have to give place to others, rapidly crowding upon the 
scene. These may well be compared to the dissolving views 
of the magic lantern, for hardly do we become familiar with 
one picture of the living panorama, when it begins to grow 
dim, and before we are aware of it a new one has taken its 
place ; so quickly indeed does this transformation take place in 
every day life, that we often find it difficult to recall the pre 
vious occurrence in all its details, unless it had at the time 
some special bearing upon our own affairs. It is therefore to 
preserve these true life pictures, that we aim, so far as they 
appear of interest, or value to ourselves, our children, and pos- 
terity. 

Our historical collection is open to all in the community who 
desire to seek it, for reference or inspection, and our publica- 
tion of papers and information is only limited by the meagre 
means of the association. 

During the past year, the society has listened to eight origi- 
nal papers, or addresses, each having been especially prepared 
for the occasion. 

Our publications for the year have been as follows : " His- 
torical collection No. 3" containing "Jesuit missions among 
the Senecas," by Rev. Charles Hawley, with notes and maps 
by Gen. John S. Clark. The sixth and seventh annual ad- 
dresses of President Hawley. Abstract of proceedings of the 
annual meetings of the society, 1878 to 1884. By-laws and 
list of officers, and members of the society in 1884. 



TENTH ANNUAL ADDRESS. 11 

Also " Historical Society Collection No. 4," containing pro- 
ceedings of a special meeting of the society occasioned by the 
death of our late president, Dr. Hawley, with resolutions*and 
short addresses by several of its members. Prof. Willis J. 
Beecher's " Memorial Address" upon the life and character of 
Dr. Hawley, delivered before the society at the First Presby- 
terian church of Auburn. 

Also the annual address of your president before the society 
in 1886. 250 copies of each of these publications were distri- 
buted to our members and to other historical societies. 

The work of selecting and obtaining the various historical 
papers for delivery before the society, is in charge of its Com- 
mittee on papers and addresses, composed during the last year 
of Lewis E. Lyon, Prof. Willis J. Beecher, Dennis R Alward, 
Prank W. Richardson, and Charles N. Baker. Their work is 
perhaps the most laborious oC any in charge of the committees, 
and is often not a little discouraging, not because they do not 
find subjects of value, but because it is most difficult in an ac- 
tive business community like ours, where each one is engrossed 
with his own affairs, to persuade those best informed, to under- 
take the work of committing their knowledge and thoughts to 
paper. Many good promises are obtained, but when it becomes 
actually necessary to begin work, it often looks so like a moun- 
tain that it is put off from time to time, and in many cases 
never done at all. I think I am within bounds in saying that 
our paper committee suggest and solicit ten subjects for each 
one which is really obtained. When we are first spoken to 
about preparing a paper, it frequently seems easy enough, and 
perhaps a thing which we would really enjoy doing, but when 
we come to sit down and face the task, unless the mind is 
trained to the work (or has a natural gift that way) some of us 
at least are like the man who once said to himself, " I will 
write a great history of the world, from the Flood down to the 
American Revolution," but when he began, he found so much 



12 TENTH ANNUAL ADDRESS. 

of it that he became discouraged and after several efforts, each 
time^ shortening the period to be covered by his great history, 
he gave up in despair, and wrote instead an account of a town 
meeting in his own village, saying that he guessed that would 
be all he was able to do. But as I wish to encourage rather than 
to discourage future offers, let me say : 

The work dear friend, once well begun 
May oft be counted near half done. 

Our librarian has reported to you that he has received various 
interesting relics and volumes, during the past year, many of 
which are quite valuable in a historicnl point of view. He has 
also re-arranged our growing library which now contains some 
400 bound volumes and a large number of historical pamphlets ; 
while this department is by no means complete, it nevertheless 
has a good start, and already embraces much valuable matter. 

Our treasurer reports the society in fair iinancial condition. 
He has in the main received a cheerful response to his call for 
the moderate annual due required to support the organization, 
and although he cannot report that the society is growing dan- 
gerously rich, he can at least assert that the association is out 
of debt, and owes nothing but good will. Tt is to be regretted 
that the question of money has to enter into our work at all, 
but there seems to be no way of avoiding it, as no one appears 
ever to have devised a satisfactory plan whereby Historical 
Societies could run without it. 

Our two secretaries, while they make no formal report to- 
night, have nevertheless each performed most acceptably the 
duties of their respective offices, and now I come to think of it 
they should have our especial sympathy, as they are the ones 
who usually lirst encounter the active newspaper reporters who 
want to know " just what was, or is to be done," and that in 
the briefest possible manner. As nothing which we do is 
"brief," it is not always easy to comply with the request 

Our meetings during the past year, have all, with one excep- 
tion, been lield in our own rooms, and were seven in number. 



TENTH ANNUAL ADDRESS. 13 

They have been well attended, both by our own members and 
citizens not members, who were interested in the particular 
subject of the evening, the audiences seldom dropping below 
fifty. 

The action of the society at its last meeting in establishing 
the new office of Historical Secretary, and the subsequent ap- 
pointment by the board of trustees of our good friend and co- 
worker, D. W. Adams, to fill the important position, will it is 
hoped, result in much benefit to the society. 

The success of our association rests mainly upon two things, 
first, the individual interest and intelligent efforts of enough of 
our citizens to sustain the oi'ganization, and second, upon })ub- 
lic encouragement enough to demonstrate to those engaged in 
the work, that it is appreciated. Money will not buy success 
here, but hearty co-operation will. I am happy to be able to 
say that in the year just parsed we have enjoyed both of these 
very essental elements, and have reason to be grateful for it, 
although it must also be confessed that there have been times 
since our organization when the society could with profit to its 
work, have received better support than it did. 

Having spoken of the past work of our association, allow 
me to call the attention of our board of trustees to two or three 
matters which it might be well for them to (jonsider with refer- 
ence to the coming year. 

First. — Would it not be well to collect and publish in some 
substantial form, the several excellent papers of Mr. B. B- 
Snow upon current events ? They cover a period of unusual 
interest in our city, and contain more information of its doings 
than any other series of papers will ever be likely to do again, 
besides they are bright interesting reading, and would be of 
benefit to those consulting our library. 

Second. — Would it not be desirable to make some arrange- 
ment whereby our rooms could be kept open for our members 
(and such visitors as they choose to bring with them), at least 



14 TENTH ANNUAL ADDRESS. 

during the winter season, or if impracticable to keep them 
open all the time, then say for two or three evenings each 
week ? This would certainly promote greater social intercourse 
among our members, and afford them a pleasant place to drop 
in now and then. 

Third. — Would it not be well to arrange our course of 
papers and addresses in advance, so that we should be able to 
announce before the fall opening, just what is to be expected ? 

Fourth. — Would it not be well to hold our annual meeting 
for election of officers and general business, in advance of the 
annual literary exercises, devoting, say, one evening for each? 

And now, before we gently close the door of the old year 
behind us, let us not forget that, among its vicissitudes and 
changes it marks the removal from our society of two of its 
most valued members, our good friends and associates, David 
M. Osborne and William Gray Wise. Each was a steadfast 
friend of the Cayuga County Historical Society, and each con- 
tributed largely to its support and encouragement in times 
when such help was most needed. We shall not meet them 
here again, except as we look for them in the past history of 
Auburn's best and most faithful citizens. But we may bear 
them in grateful and kindly remembrance so long as this society 
shall last, or we remain behind to keep the record. 

Fellow members, we are about to draw aside the curtain 
which veils another year ; its comings for us are too obscure 
for either record or prophesy to-night. 

May your individual blessings be many, including peace, 
happiness and success in your various undertakings; your 
trials, sorrows and disappointments, light and few in number. 

And while Providence shall continue to work out life's prob- 
lem for us, in 1887, let us see to it that our associated work 
here goes on with vigor and intelligence, so that the Cayuga 
County Historical Society shall gather additional strength with 
its increasing years. 



SEWERS: ANCIENT AND MODERN; 
WITH AN APPENDIX, 

COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES OF THE SEWERAGE 
SYSTEM OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, N. Y. 



A PAPER READ BEFORE THE CAYUGA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 
DECEMBER 14, 1886. 



BY CYRENUS WHEELER, JR. 

Mayor of Auburn, and a member of the Historical Society. 



INTRODUCTORY. 




HE subject of our 
paper this evening 
will be Drainage and 
Sewerage, ancient 
and modern. How 
the work was done ; 
how it is done ; how 
it should be done : 

To some of our 
hearers this evening 
we fear the subject 
will be dry and un- 
interesting, yet it is one of great importance and should not 
be ignored. The character of the drainage and sewerage of 
our residences and their surroundings, determine the standard 
of the individual and public health. The more perfect and 
thorough this work, the purer will be the soil, the water, and 
the air ; the higher the standard of public health, and the lower 
the death rate. We have succeeded a people, whose lives 
were passed in a primitive manner, on this beautiful domain. 



6!* sewers: ancient and modern. 

" Lo, the poor Indian," erected his wigwam on our river banks, 
and here children engaged in healthful play ; young men and 
maidens, in youthful pastimes, and old men met in council. 
Their wants were few and their ambitions limited. "Fire 
water," and the enervating habits of a modern civilization, had 
not then been introduced. The pure air of Heaven sur- 
rounded him ; pure water from Owasco's stream, or adjacent 
springs, quenched his thirst, and simple food satisfied his hun- 
ger. Here he lived, in the enjoyment of a vigorous animal life. 
" Malaria" to him was unknown, and death when not ushered 
in by accident, or the tomahawk of an enemy, came by the 
slow approaches of old age, to transport him to the happy 
hunting grounds where, " His faithful dog shall bear him com- 
pany." 



SEWERS: ANCIENT AND MODERN. 




AN in his primitive 
state paid little atten- 
tion to bis sanitary 
surroundings. His 
animal instincts 
prompted him to 
make his resting place 
when not engaged in 
a search for food, in a 
dry and sheltered sit- 
uation ; and experi- 
ence would soon teach 
him that such places, 

_^ were conducive to his 

physical comfort. If carried back in imagination to pre-his- 
toric times, we may see him, intellectually, but little above the 
beasts of the field, his animal nature preponderating. In such 
a state he would only be stimulated to activity, by the de- 
mands of hunger, and the necessity of guarding against the 
attacks of the enemies that surrounded him. Experience in 
time taught him, that the struggles of life would be relieved 
by association with other men, for mutual protection and 
defense. This bringing together of numbers of the human 
family, in clans or tribes, necessitated the selection of favora- 



3 BBI SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 

ble locations, for their home life. These selections were made, 
with due regard to their proximity to water and food, free- 
dom from moisture, and the advantages of good natural drain- 
age. The shelter in those primitive days was of the rudest 
kind, affording good ventilation and ready removal to a differ- 
ent locality, when the necessities of the occupants made it 
necessary. That the Aboriginees of this country practiced this 
this, is clear]}'- shown by an examination of the sites of their 
villages, many of which can still be identified. In the primi- 
tive .state, the difficulty of procuring necessary food prevented 
the gathering together in one place, for any length of time, of 
large numbers of the humanfamily. In the progress of human 
developments, families became associated together in larger 
numbers; and with the increase of numbers, other, and unseen 
dangers surrounded and assailed them. 

The alarming inroads of disease and death, at times struck 
terror to the stoutest hearts. In their ignorance, they attribu- 
ted their sufferings to the anger of some unseen and undefined 
being whom they had offended. One stage further in devel- 
opment, and unusual attacks of disease and death were charged 
to an overruling Providence, or the visitation of God. In 
progress of time, some minds more advanced than others, rec- 
ognized the great law of cause and effect, and began to enquire 
the cause of the unusual visitations of disease and death. 
Investigation, closely connected certain conditions and sur- 
roundings with disease and death of a certain character, or 
type ; and conviction in the minds of the few, led to the efforts 
on their part to remove the cause ; with the cause removed, 
they found disease disappeared. In time there became estab- 
lished in the minds of many, the fact, that great unchangable 
laws governed the inanimate material, as well as the animate 
physical world. All these laws existed long before they 
became established facts in the minds of any portion of the 
human familv. From the records of the human race, as found 



SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 9 

in Genesis, we learn that prior to the flood, the wickedness of 
the world had become so great, that the flood was necessary for 
its purification. The inhabitants of the world at that time, 
had so far infringed on the laws governing their physical and 
moral life, that natural selection could not accomplish the work 
of regeneration, and selection by an overruling power was nec- 
essary for the proper development of the human race. 

To Noah the promise was made, that seed time and harvest 
should thereafter continue to the end of time ; and the bow of 
promise spaimed the Heavens, as a reminder that the promise 
would be fulfilled. 

Noah and his sons went forth from the Ark to people the 
earth. In those early days they led a pastoral life, living in 
tents, and changing their locality as the wants of their increas- 
ing herds, or the changes of the season demanded. Their 
simple out door life, and limited numbers gathered under a 
patriarchal government, was conducive to health and longevity. 

The first large gathering of people after the flood, was on 
the plains of Shinah where the abortive attempt was made to 
reach the heavens, by the erection of a tower which, from the 
confusion of tongues that followed, and the dispersion of its 
builders, has come down in historj^ as the tower of Babel. 
The first recorded sanitary direction given to any people is 
found in Deuteronomy, xxiii chapter, 11th, 12th and loth 
verses, in which washing for cleanliness is commanded, and a 
place to be set apart outside of the camp, and a paddle ordered 
used on their weapons for sanitary purposes. 

Pure water was early recognized, as essential to the health 
and comfort of the human family. Hunger can be longer 
endured without serious injury, than thirst ; and without an 
abundant supply of water where large numbers of people are 
congregated together, good sanitary conditions cannot be long 
maintained, and it has been truthfully said that " Cleanliness is 
indeed next to godliness." 



10 SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 

In the city of Jerusalem, 726 3-ears before the birth of Christ, 
in the reign of the good king Hezekiah, will be found recorded 
in the 2d of Kings, 20th chapter, and 20th verse, that he caused 
"a pool to be made, and a conduit, and brought water into the 
city." 

Recent excavations made on the site of Solomon's Temple, 
establishes the fact, that a thorough S3-stem of drainage and 
sewerage, was provided for the temple, and its surroundings. 
The general canal system of Egypt, executed under Ramesis 
the lirst, and his successors, served extensive drainage and sew- 
erage purposes. Tlie canals of Assyria and Babyh^n, fed by 
the Tigris and Euphrates, probably served the same purpose. 
The ancient Romans at an early period of their history adopted 
a regular system of drainage and sewerage. The trunk sewer 
of Rome, called the Cloaca Maxima, constructed of hewn stone, 
fifteen feet wide, and thirty feet high, was originated by Tar- 
quin the elder, one hundred and fifty years after the founda- 
tion of the city. Agrippa sailed through it in a boat, Nero 
the tyrant caused his victims to be thrown into it; and it yet 
remains a part of the sewerage system of Rome. An elabo- 
rate system of sewerage has been discovered in connection with 
the Colosseum. 

The ancients not only fully comprehended the necessity of 
drainage and sewerage, but as fully appreciated the advantages 
of an abundant water suppl}', for cleanliness and health, and 
availed themselves of its advantages as a means of removal by 
water carriage of the filth from their dwellings. On this con- 
tinent evidences exist of its ancient inhabitants having some 
knowledge of drainage, if not of sewerage. In the works of 
the mound builders of this country, are found evidences of 
conduits, aqueducts, and reservoirs, showing that such a sys- 
tem was in existence at an early day in this country. 

The date of these works cannot be determined, as they ante- 
date any history extant, and were evidently constructed by an 



sewers: ancient and modern. 11 

extinct race, superior in intelligence and constructive skill, to 
the Indian race, found here, at its earliest discovery by the 
whites. 

Drainage, as well as sewerage, should receive due considera- 
tion. While drainage is important, sewerage is indispensable 
in a sanitary point of view. The question of drainage received 
attention in England, as early as 1436, when the possibility of 
relieving " the fens bordering on the river Ouse was agitated." 

Nearly two hundred years after this the Earl of Bedford 
attempted to reclaim this tract by an embankment, but failed 
after an expenditure of half a million ; but his son fifteen 
years afterwards by an expenditure of one and one-half mil- 
lions, cut two drainage channels more than twenty miles in 
length, of navigable capacity, through this tract. In England 
at an early day the system of underdraining was practiced with 
advantage on wet lands : stone being first used and afterwards, 
earthen, or clay tiles. Holland has an extensive system of 
drainage, which has been in practice for centuries. Within the 
last half century, the system of under drains for the improve- 
ment of moist, or wet lands has been introduced, and quite 
extensively practiced in this country. 

Central, and western New York, in its early settlement, with 
a virgin soil, penetrated by the I'oots and fibers of a heavy 
growth of timber, recently removed ; produced abundant crops. 

As the roots and fibers decayed, they enriched the soil, and 
left channels which served to relieve the soil, to a considerable 
extent, of its excess of moisture. Continued cultivation closed 
these channels ; and land once light and friable, became heav;y 
and sodden, cropping unprofitable, and drainage had to be 
resorted to, or cultivation abandoned. Stone, here as in Eng- 
land was first used, but drain tiles and pipes were introduced 
and extensively used for that purpose. Their invention, and 
first use for the purpose, is believed to be due to the Romans. 

In England, sewer commissioners were appointed in the 



12 SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 

reign of Henry VII ; but their powers were limited to sur'ace 
drainage, and pea walls, the sewerage being left to the local 
commissioners. 

The drainage of London was provided for by legislative 
enactments, commencing in 1225, and the whole was revised 
by Sir Thomas Moore, in the celebrated bill of sewers, passed 
in 1531. 

The use of sewers in London, up to tlie present century was 
limited to the water that runs in the gutters, and the liquid 
refuse from the houses. In the reign of George III, an act was 
passed prohibiting the discharge of other matter into them 
under a penalty. The houses were provided with cess-pools, 
the accumulations of which were occasionally removed by the 
night carts. 

The introducti'in of an abundant supply of water into the 
city, and the invention of water-closets, led to a new use of 
the sewers ; and to results, not contemplated in their original 
construction. 

The refuse matter of the cess-pools, instead of being trans- 
ported into the country, to enrich the soil, was turned into the 
sewers, and discharged into the river Thames, at the nearest 
point. These sewers proved insufficient for the work, and 
reconstruction on a larger scale became necessary, and a regu- 
lar system was adopted ; bringing the sewers down to the river 
on each side, for a distance of six miles ; their total length in 
1855, exceeded 2,000 miles, and at that date, London was 
regarded as the best sewered city in the world. 

Notwithstanding the magnitude of the work, serious difficul- 
ties existed by reason of the low points of discharge of the 
sewers into the river, made necessary to obtain sufficient fall. 
The result was, that their outlets remained closed for a large 
portion, of every twenty -four hours b}' the rising tides, forcing 
back into the houses noxious gases. Another difficulty arose 
from the large accumulation of filth along the banks of the 



SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 13 

river, cauied by the obstructed flow of the sewers. This 
accumulation, at low tides, in warm weather, tilled the atmos- 
phere with offensive odors and gases. 

To remedy this difliculty, it was decided in 1858, to adopt 
some means to abate the nuisance. An effort was made to do 
so, by discharging into the sewer.s, during warm weather, 
immense quantities of lime, and chloride of lime, for the puri- 
fication and disinfection of the same. During the summer of 
1859, 110 tons of lime, and 12 tons of chloride of lime, were 
daily thrown in, at a weekly cost of £1,500, and £20,000 was 
expended during the season in flushing the sewers. This 
method proving unsatisfactory, to remedy the difficulty, three 
large parallel intercepting sewers, seven miles long were con- 
structed, on each side of the river, at different levels, crossing 
the old sewers at right angles, so as to intercept and carry off 
their contents. These intercepting sewere, cost £4,250,000, or 
$21,250,000, and it is estimated that the total cost of these im- 
mense works, will not fall short of £30,000,000, or $150,- 
000,000. 

The importance of the sewer system of London, and its mag- 
nitude will be appai'ent, when it is stated, that her sewers dis- 
charge into the river Thames, 4:4: tons of refuse per minute, an 
amount equal to 23,126,400 tons per year. This would require 
for its removal if transported by rail road, in cars carrying 
standard loads of ten tons each, 264 cars per hour and 6,336 
per day, or 316 trains of 20 cars each, daih' ; and allowing 525 
feet for each train, 31 miles of railroad track would be required, 
to stand upon. 

London, to-day, is undoubtedly the best sewered city in the 
world, and this is conclusively proven, by a comparison of its 
annual death rate with other cities of less population. With 
a population of 4,083,928, for the month of Jul}' last, it was 
equal to 17.9 per 1,000 annuallj'. The city of Liverpool with 
579,724 inhabitants, had a death rate of 28.9. New York citv 



14 SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 

with a population of 1,439,000 for the same time had a death 
rate of 34,35, — a marked difference. 

In the " Eevue d'n3'giene," for October, Dr. Bertillon, in giv- 
ing the comparative htalthfuhiess of different cities for 1885, 
states that the death, by typhoid fever in every 100,000 inhab- 
itants in London was 17, and in New York 26 ; and the death 
from diphtheria for the same number of inhabitants in London 
was 22. in New York 94. 

The drainage and sewerage of Paris, another important Euro- 
pean city, has been greatly improved in the last half century, 
and at the present time, is second only to that of London. 
Napoleon the First, ordered the repair and extension of the 
system during his reign, and the extension and improvement 
has continued until the present time. The main sewers are of 
sufficient capacity to receive gas and water mains, and in some 
of them, rails are laid on which cars are run, and in others boats 
are used for cleaning the same, and they are accessible to vis- 
itors by the same means. In connection with these sewers, a 
system of gutter flushing is in practice, making the streets of 
Paris models of cleanliness. The improved system of sewer- 
age and drainage, has proved so beneficial to the public that 
the annual death rate, which was 36 per thousand in Louis the 
XVI time, has been reduced to 22, and Paris, to-day, is the 
healthiest city on the continent. 

The construction of sewers in this country until a recent date 
has been without any well defined system, and has been the 
result of a pressing necessity. The cess-pool, and vault, or no 
vault sj^stem prevailed for a long time, and still continues to 
exist to the detriment of health in many places.* The cess-pool 
and vault systems are usually but holes in the ground, some- 
times lined with wood, and the more rapidly their contents dis- 
appear, the more valuable they are thought to be. Small, 
irregular water courses, walled up with loose stones, and cov- 
ered over in time were made to serve as sewers ; and what were 



* See Plate rJ2. 



SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 15 

once harmless rivulets, became elongated cess-pools of the most 
dangerous character.* In many instances, they were connected 
with cellars by drains without traps, furnishing ready avenues 
for the entrance of noxious ffases to the cellars and livino; rooms 
above. 

In the earlier constructed sewers, it was thought necessary to 
have them serve the purpo.se of drainage as well as sewerage, 
and no attempt was made to construct them as water-tight con- 
duits. With the inti-oduction of })ipes, they were laid without 
cement in their joints, thus making long cess-pools of what 
should have been water-tight conduits. f 

Tlie danger of cess-pools and badly constructed sewers, (which 
are much worse as their influence is far reaching), cansiot be 
estimated. The accumul.ition of refuse matter, within and 
around or in the vicinity of human habitation is always atterided 
with danger. If permitted to accumulate for a sufficient length 
of time, it will tell upon the health and vitality of the occupant. 
Gases will be generated, and bad air, under the popular name 
of " malaria," will beheld responsible for ills that often make 
life burdensoniG. In locations unfavorable from lack of good 
natural drainage, the difficulty is increased and the danger 
intensified. With a dense population located on ground satur- 
ated with water and an accumulation of filth, having no outlet 
except by the slow process of evaporation, an undue amount of 
sickness may be expected to prevail. In soils saturated with 
filth, during the winter when the surface is closed by frost and 
ice, the danger from noxious gases is increased, as the easiest 
avenue for their escape is thi'ough the cellars of residences to 
the rooms above. This danger is increased in buildings warmed 
by furnaces in the cellar, even if the supply of air for the rooms 
above is taken from the outer air. If the air is all taken from 
the cellar the danger is increascvl. The danger is not entirely 
due to noxious emanations, but from the use of water for drink- 
ing, taken from wells sunk in such soil. 

* See Plates 6 and 8. 
1 See Plates 4, 5 and 10. 



16 SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 

Artificial drains, it is nndei'stood, will in most soils, draw 
water horizontally, ten times their depth vertically. This is 
true in soil and sub-soil, free from underground water channels ; 
when these exist, wells may, and undoubtedly do draw their 
supply from long distances. Water will find its level, and 
sheets of water and rivulets exist at varying distances below 
the surface of the earth. These mainly derive their supply 
from rainfalls, and have a more or less rapid movement accord- 
ing to the character of the soil and sub soil, and the strata of 
rock on which they rest. Wells supplied from such sources are 
liable to become contaminated, especially in localities hone}^- 
combed with vaults and cess-pools, and whai is worse, badly 
constructed sewers. It is claimed that water passing through 
the earth is filtered and purified. It should not be forgotten 
that tiiC eui'th acts more as a sieve, to remove the impurities 
that it holds in sus[)ension, and that })oisons in solution remain 
in the water after filtration. Clearness is not a proof of purity, 
A glass of water cleai" as ciystal, may contain poison enough 
to kill a whole family, not alone by the slow process of disease, 
but immediately and surel};.'^' 

The jieculiar sparkle and flavor of the water from some wells 
so highly prized as a beverage, ma}' be due to deleterious gases 
and poisonous adulterations from some cess-pool near by, or 
more distant. 

Danger always attends the use of water taken from wells in 
cities. Though active disease and death may not follow from 
the use of sewer and cess-pool contaminated water, the standard 
of health and vitality may be so lowered that life may to a cer- 
tain degree be felt to be a burden. Many ills are charged now 
to malaria, which were in former times charged to an imaginary 
being whom the sufferers believed they had offended. The 
sympathies of kind hearted neighbors are often extended to 
sufferers from sickness, with a feeling that a hard fate attends 
them, when a better understanding of the cause would enable 

* See Plate r. 



SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 17 

them to discover some connection between cess-pools on their 
own, or their neighbor's propert}', or an imperfect sewer. A 
careful analysis made of the water of a well, at one time of 
the year, will not prove what its condition may be at another. 
Its character may be entirely changed by a drought or an excess 
of rain-fall. It is safe to assume that wells in the more densely 
populated parts of cities are always in danger of contamination, 
and that it is unsafe to draw from such, your daily supply of 
water.* Remember that pure water cannot be obtained with 
certainty from wells sunk amongst cess-pools, no more than 
pure air can be expected in houses connected with sewers and 
cess pools, without proper traps. 

CoM'per sung " God made the country, and man made the 
town V and Cowley, " God the first gardens made, and the first 
city Cain.'' The first city was built in the "Land of Nod,'' a 
name su2;2festive of " malarial influences " or '* bad air." The 
sixth commandment found recorded in " Holy writ " is, " Thou 
shalt not kill." How many deaths in cities are due to 
bad drainage and sewerasfe, can never be determined. The 
indictment and conviction of bad sewers and cess-pools, for 
murder and manslaughter, (or more properly, women and chil- 
dren slaughter, as they are the greatest sufferers), would be 
of advantage, if execution could speedily follow, and their 
removal take place, the slaughter of the innocents would 
ciecrease in a marked degree. For every person dying, it is 
estimated twenty fall sick ; and Playiair estimates it at twenty- 
eight. Municipal authorities are not blameless in this ; and it 
is not a good defense to say, " Where ignorance is bliss 'tis 
folly to be wise,'' or believe as another has said : 

" Froim ignorance our comfort flows, 
The onl)' wretched are the wise." 

The Polution of streams and bodies of water adjacent to large 
cities, must to a certain degree always take place ; as the nat- 

* See Plate 7. 



18 SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 

uml rain fall, or so inucli of it as is not disposed of by evapo- 
ration, sooner or later finds its way to some river or body of 
water. It has been found that running streams furnish the 
best available means for the disposal of liquid tilth, and refuse 
of cities. Water carriage, when available, has been found to- 
be the cheaj)est, as well as the least objectionable means of dis- 
posing of the large quantities f)f filth that would otherwise- 
accumulate, to the deti'iment of public health. With the intro- 
duction of an abundant supply of water in cities, the necessity 
for sewers increases. Ancient Rome, in all her glory, with her 
public baths, is said to have had a supply of 300 gallons per 
head, daily. This was no doubt an extravagant expenditure. 
The dail}^ consumption in New York, for each person, is 95 
gallons ; in Albany 75, and Buffalo 63. The Water Works 
Company of this city, is delivering to our citizens at the pres- 
ent time, 2,500,000 gallons ; equal to 9(5 gallons for each of 
26,000 persons, the estimated population of the city. 

This water mixed with the refuse of manufactories and 
dwellings, finds its way into the Owasco river again, as sewer- 
age, and cannot fall much short of three and a quarter million 
of gallons ; this is equivalent to nearly one car load per min- 
ute, or 54: cars hourly, and 1,296 daily, or 65 trains of 20 cars, 
carrying 20,000 pounds each, daily. This is diluted by the 
average daily flow froin the Owasco lake, of 60,000,000 gal- 
lons, a dilution equal to 2,453 gallons to each iidiabitant. A 
large portion of the impurities carried by rivers, ai'e socTier 
or later deposited, at a greater or less distance, from the point 
where received. It is estimated that the Mississippi river de- 
posits annually in the Gulf of Mexico, no less than 400,000;00(.> 
tons of mud. 

This city is favorably located for drainage and sewerage. 
The Owasco river, the outlet of Owasco lake, a bod}^ of water 
unexcelled for purity, flows centrally through the city. At 
times its flow is rapid, and at all seasons its current is sufficient 



SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 19- 

to bring a continuous fresli supply. The extreme dilution of 
the sewage of the city after reaching the river, renders it 
comparatively innoxious. It can have but little, if any, inHu- 
ence on the atmosphere, and the otdy danger lies in the expos- 
ure by low water, of the filth deposited along its banks, for 
too long a time, in the heat of summer. The removal of 
the Prison dam has been advocated by some ; but this, it is 
believed, can only be done with safety when the city, or its 
citizens, are prepared to wall up the channel of the stream, anil 
fill in the adjacent banks without delay. 

With the ground water held at a uniform height, there is 
less danger from the exhalation of noxious gases, than where 
considerable changes in height takes place. The ground every- 
where contains moi'c or less air. In porous soil, the propor- 
tion is estimated at one-third cubic foot of air to each cubic 
foot of earth. 

In ground filled with water the air is expelled. As the 
water falls, the air takes its place, and as it rises again, the air 
is again expelled. 

If the ground is filled with animal and vegetable filth, nox- 
ious gases or bad air is expelled. Thus the earth goes through. 
a process of breathing. These noxious exhalations from the 
body of diseased mother earth, are comparatively harmless", if 
largely diffused through the atmosphere. If instead, it escapes 
into a confined space, like a cellar, it may prove a slow, or more 
active poison. It has been pointed out by Professor Petten- 
koffer, that in districts where the rivers are held up by weirs 
or dams, at a uniform level, the conditions are favoi'able to 
health. 

In an examination of the records of " Vital Statistics," going 
back to January, 1885, and including this year, to the present 
time, it is found that the whole number of deaths, in the 
swamp district, included on both sides of Dill street, State 
street to Academy, Academy to North, to Dill and Market 



'iO SEWERS: ANCIENT AND MODERN. 

Street, embracing 30 acres in the heart of the city, was 25. Of 
these seven (7) were over 60 years of age ; over 40, and less 
than 60, four (4) ; over 20, and less than 40, six (6) ; over 10, 
and less than 20, one (1) ; over 5, and less than 10, one (1) ; 
over 1, and less than 5, two (2) ; less than 1 four (4). The 
causes of death were as follows ; Old age 2 ; pneumonia 2 ; 
heart disease 2 ; cancer 1 ; consumption 3 ; Bright's disease 1 ; 
apoplexy 1 : inflammation of the bowels 1 ; chronic bronchitis 
1 ; debility 1 : inflammation of the bladder 1 ; peritonitus 1 ; 
congestion of the brain 1 ; convulsions 1 ; entro coletis 1 ; 
cerebral spinal menengitis 2. The last two cases were chil- 
dren, one of whom died in Market and the other in State street. 

Water contaminated with sewage, is not a safe every day- 
beverage ; and some of our citizens evidently fear that Owasco 
lake water cannot be drank with safety, at least, so long as 
they can obtain something they like better. The erection of 
public hydrants in localities in this city where wells are now 
generally in use, would be a public benefit, as with their erec- 
tion, the use of wells could be prohibited. Under the system 
now in practice, for the disposal of the refuse of cities, other 
•questions besides contamination, must eventually receive con- 
sideration." 

A steady drain upon the C(juntry is going on, and its fertility 
and j)roductiveness is being reduced, and in time with the 
increase of population will be seriously felt. The time is not 
far distant when young men and old, will not, as now, be able 
to follow tlie advice of the venerable sage Greely, and " Go 
west." The fertility of this country, and the facilities for 
transportation are such, that our cities can draw their supplies 
of food from long distances ; and from large tracts of country ; 
but it is safe to assume, that with the rapid growth of cities at 
the present day, the time is being hastened when the stream of 
wealth that now flows into the sea, will be directed to the land. 
The stream of fertilizers, that London is daily pouring into 

* See Plate 7. 



SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 21 

the Thames ; if it could be as easily, and cheaply, spread over 
the Emerald Isle, would so increase its productiveness, that 
immigration would cease, and many of her sons and daughters 
return to their " Fatherland." 

Intercepting sewers parallel to the river, have been recom- 
mended ; the necessity for them will arise when our city has 
quadrupled in population, or the time come when river pollu- 
tion shall be forbidden and enforced by law, or the value of 
sewage as a fertilizer better appreciated. 

The apparent turpidity, and discoloration of the water, is not 
a certain indication of increased pollution. Manufactories dis- 
charge dye-stufi's and refuse into sewers and streams, giving 
the fluid an appearance of pollution that does not exist. There 
is but little sewage discharged into the Owasco river, above 
Lizette street bridge. 

It receives, on the east side at the bridge, the sewage from a 
considerable territory lying south of East Genesee street, and 
west of Seward avenue. On the west side below Lizette street 
bridge the Elizabeth street sewer has its outlet. x\t the Gen- 
esee street bridge, the East Genesee street and Second ward 
sewers discharge. 

At the North street bridge, the Franklin street sewer dis- 
charges, and below the bridge on the south side the Dill street 
sewer discharges. On the north side below the bridge two 
sewers discharge. At the State street bridge, on the north side, 
the Cross, Wall and State street sewers discharge, and below 
the Prison dam, the sewers from State, Clark, Genesee and 
Hulburt streets discharge. 

On the opposite side, through the Prison wall, the prison 
sewer has its outlet. Below Barber's factory on the south side, 
the Washington, Jefferson and Clark street sewers discharge. 

On the north side, Washington, Barber and West Water 
streets discharge. 

On the south side near Division street bridge another dis- 



22 SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 

charges, which serves for Orchard street below Jefferson. On 
the north side below Aurelia-3 avenue bridge the VanAnden 
^street sewer discharges. There are several small sewers, on 
both sides of the stream that discliarge into it, bat they serve 
for a very limited territory. East of the highest point on 
Franklin street, sewers from it and Caj^uga street discharge 
into an open brook. A territory lying east of Seward avenue ; 
Morris street, Beach avenue and Grant avenue, discharges its 
surface water into this brook, and its sewers must find an out- 
let by the same route: and another tract lying in the north and 
west part of the city, di'ains noi'th and west to n^ach the outlet. 

On the south and south-west, another portion of its territory, 
finds an outlet in the same direction. 

In the several portions of the city last described, the sur- 
face drainage reaches the Owasco river outside of the city limits. 

This city, from its near proximity to several lakes receives 
annually a considerable rciin fall. Dnring the summer, showers 
are frequent, and often copious, and materially aid in flushing 
its sewers. The topography of this city is such, that the river 
receives the surface drainage, of a large portion of it, within its 
limits. A lime-stone ledge underlies the city, and in places 
forms the bed of the stream. This bed of rock is seamed and 
fissured, and in places where it is exposed, small rivulets flow 
into tliese fissures and disappear. Tliis mass of rock underh^- 
ing the cit^^ forms a floor, (except where fissures exist), imper- 
vious to water. On this floor a sheet of water rests, and is 
slowly moving towards a lower level. The character of the 
soil and sub-soil covering this rock is variable, embracing sand, 
gravel, quick-sand, swamp-muck, and boulder clay. In these 
have been constructed vaults and cess-pools, which have been 
long in existence, as the receptacles of the solid, and fluid refuse 
of the inhabitants, and will it is feared be too long continued. 

Our citizens generally take pride in their homes, and adorn 
and beautif}'' them. Neatness and order mark their residences. 



SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 23 

and their surroundings; their lawns and shrubbery are kept 
neatly cut and trimmed, and their walks in good repair, and 
daily swept. 

Fatal sickness has not invaded their homes ; but it may 
have their neighbors. A beautiful and neatly kept lawn, may 
conceal a cess-pool that feeds a neighbor's well, and has sown the 
«eeds of disease and death, in his household. The well from 
which 3^ou draw your dail}^ supply of water, may be in near 
proximity to your cess-pool, and escape the foul current your 
neighbor's well receives. 

Sewer construction in this city was began, and has been car- 
ried forward without any very definite plan, beyond meeting 
the immediate and pressing wants of the time, and the locality 
where constructed. 

The oldest existing sewers, (more jiroperly elongated cess- 
pools), were originally concealed water courses ; made so by the 
owners of the property, walling them up from time to time, as 
the several owners desired to hide a blemish, and improve their 
property. The walls were laid with stones without mortar or 
cement, and with but little attention to grade, and with no pur- 
pose in view, except to provide a covered conduit, of sufficient 
size, to carry the rain fall received in the basin it drained.* 

In a few localities in the city, open drains that serve for sewer 
pur})oses still exist; and people reside in close proximity to 
them apparently without a thought of danger. Not long since, 
some members of the Board of Health were requested to visit 
such a locality, and when there, met a resident, a native of the 
"Emerald Isle," who evidently did not believe in sewers, and 
was unwilling that the salubrity and healthfulness of his locality, 
should be called in question, as he declared, with considerable 
earnestness : " By gorra, I have lived here more than twenty 
years, and there ain't a healthier place in the whole city : I never 
paid a shilling to the doctors." In this case the drain was made 

* See Plate'l. 



24 SEWERS : AXCIENT AND MODERN. 

in the earlh without protecting walls, and the supply of water 
was insufficient, to carry off its filthy deposits.* 

The early records of the village show that some sewers were 
constructed of wood : the corporation timber, by direction of 
the village board, being applied to that purpose. A step in 
advance was made, when sewers were constructed of stone, laid 
in mortar, on a board or plank foundation. The next advance 
was the substitution of water lime cement, for quicklime mortar. 
It has been charged, that contractors sometimes used common 
clay, as a substitute for mortar : at least sewers have been so 
poorly constructed, that parties assessed for the same, refused to 
pay, the city failed to collect, and considerable amounts remain 
to this day uncollected. ISewers constructed of stone square in 
form, with fiat bottom, if constructed in the best manner, are 
objectionable, as the flow of their fluid contents is much imped- 
ed, and they will at all times retain a large amount of filth 
and cannot be as perfectly flushed.f Brick sewers came next 
in order, made circular in form ; then followed cement pipes, 
and lastly vitrified, or glazed clay pipes. There has been a 
gradual improvement in the construction, and material used, 
but there is still further advances required. 

Many of the sewers heretofore constructed, fail in their work- 
manship. Brick sewers have been constructed with single 
walls, or rings of brick, circular in form. The objection to 
these is the difficult}'-, almost impossibility, of making the joints 
between the bricks tight enough to hold their fluid contents. 
All brick sewers should be built with double courses of bricks, 
and are only preferable, when exceeding a certain size.:}: In 
pipe, as well as brick sewers, leaky joints have been too much 
the rule. Until within a few years, it was thought to be an 
important requisite of sewers, that they should have open 
joints, to admit the ground water, so as to serve also the pur- 
pose of soil drainage.! The joints of the pipes were left with- 
out cement, that the water might get in, without a thought of 

*See Plate 23. 
+ See Plate 1. 
i See Plate 20 and 21. 
§See Plate 4, 5 and 15. 



sewers: ancient and modern, 25 

whether their contents would get out, or if out, what would 
be the effect : in fact many of our sewers are so many elon- 
gated cess- pools. 

But few of the sewers have been laid deep enough, to serve 
for present use, or to admit of future improvement. They 
have not been properly ventilated, or been provided with proper 
openings and connections for the street water; and house con- 
nections have been left to tlie ignorance or caprice of any per- 
son who desired to make, or have them made ; the Common 
Council granting permission to excavate in the streets for that 
purpose, and leaving the work without supervision. As a 
result the work is often badly done, and the streets generally 
left in bad condition. 

The question of ventilation is an important one, and should 
not be overlooked. The wide diffusion of noxious gases through 
the atmosphere, deprive them of their deleteriousness. The 
mixing of " sewer gas " with a large volume of pure atmospheric 
air, hastens by oxydafcion the destruction of the noxious germs, 
with which the gas may be charged.* 

The attendants upon patients in fever wards in hospitals, are 
free from danger, if proper ventilation is kept up ; and when 
they suffer, it is conclusive evidence that the ventilation is bad, 
A physician of this city, who was a surgeon on active duty in 
the field daring the war, has stated a case that occurred under 
his observation, where a field hospital, immediately after battle, 
was located in a grove ; patients suffering from amputations, 
and serious wourjds, were doing badly, and an unusual mor- 
tality set in ; a removal of these patients from the grove to a 
high open field, exposed to the rays of the summer sun, with 
an unobstructed circulation of air, and improvement immedi- 
ately followed, and within three days all unfavorable symptoms 
disappeared. 

The sanitary rule of " Hippocrates," the " father of medi- 
cine " was " pure air, pure water, pure soil ;" where these con- 

* See Plate 19. 



■26 sewers: ancient and modern. 

ditions exist, bat little more can be expected. The best dis- 
infectants for ordinary family use, are "pure air," and "sun- 
light ;'" and always, remember that faded carpets, are better 
than faded cheeks ; and where the sunlight cannot come, the 
^octoi" must 

The earliest public movement for sewer construction, was 
made at an annual meeting held at the Court House, in the 
village of Auburn, May 4th, 1835, and was expressed in the 
following words : " On motion, 

'"Resolved^ that the trustees be authorized to dig and form a 
subterranean drain ; commencing near the Court House, on the 
south side of Genesee street, at such place as the said Trustees 
may deem proper to commence at, and run thence to the Owasco 
creek, either at or near Patty's store, or else running to the 
intersection of North and South streets, and thence tarn and 
run north to the Owasco creek near the old market, as the said 
trustees may direct ; and that the said drain be dug sufficiently 
deep to drain the cellars to the buildings on the south side of 
■Genesee street, and that the same be made sufficiently large so 
that the same may be cleaned by men passing throagh it under- 
ground, and that in raising the necessary tax for the purpose 
of making the said drain, the trustees be directed to assess the 
same as far as may be practicable, upon such persons, wrhere 
property will be benefitted by the construction of said sewer." 
Though this sewer was authorized at this early day, eighteen 
^''ears elapsed before its final construction. In those days, as 
now, many people failed to appreciate their advantages, and 
were ready with remonstrances. 

The records of Auburn, as a village, show that some of the 
earlier sewers were constructed of wood ; although water cour- 
ses were walled up, or partially walled up at an earlier day, as 
such are known still to exist, and are used for sewer purposes, 
though nothing in the village records indicates when or by 
whom constructed. 



SEWEKS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 27 

The first sewer constructed by the direction of the village 
authorities, was in 1839, and was from the Presbyterian Church, 
and was probably, from the church edifice to tiie creek. The 
cost of this sewer cannot be determined, as F. J. Clute, the 
builder of it, was for that, and removing the village pound, 
ordered paid $33.00. 

In September, 1839, complaint was made about Mr. Richard- 
son's drain on South street, and "on motion he was required 
to remove the same within ten days." What kind of a drain 
this was ; why it was objectionable, or how, or where it was to 
be removed to, does not appear from the records. August 2d, 
1841, the street committee were ordered to examine Green 
street, and ordered the notice for the construction of a sewer, 
"beginning at the north-east corner where it intersects Clark 
street, running thence along the east side of Water street : to 
be constructed of stone, two feet wide, and three feet his^h, well 
covered with flat stones."' October 29th, the cost of this sewer 
was reported to be $560.00, and this sum was ordered " assessed 
on the property benefitted by the construction of said sewer." 
John Hepburn, George Casey, William Woods, Thomas Mun- 
roe, and Thomas Hunt, were appointed commissioners to 
assess the same. " July -ith, 1845, a sewer of oak and beach 
timber was ordered constructed on the south side of Clark 
street, of such dimensions as the street committee small deem 
advisable."' This sewer was constructed, though the cost does 
not appear, but the report of the Assessors was confirmed, and 
the property on said street assessed for the purpose, ordered 
SKcl, unless the assessments were paid within three days. This 
would appear at the present day, like a summary proceeding. 
Evidently the v"illage fathers believed in prompt payment. 
" October 4th, 1847, a sewer was ordered constructed on the 
south side of Genesee street, from the termination of a sewer 
near Joseph T. Pitney s to the Owasco creek ; to be built of 
stone, one foot square in the clear," and November 15th, 1847, 



28 SEWEKS : AXCIEXT AND MODERN. 

$90.00 was ordered " assessed on property benefitted by the 
construction of said sewer." The sewer with which this con- 
nected, was probably a private sewer on the south side of Gen- 
esee street, which had its opening near Dr. Pitney 's residence. 
April 6th, 1818, the " Loveliest village " became a city, and 
began to put on "City airs.'' On the 9th day of May, the 
" City Fathers '" aired their wisdom, by the passage of an ordi- 
nance forbidding, under a penalty of live dollars, any person 
"putting any straw, shavings, wood, tan bark, stones, ashes, 
rubbish, or any filthy substance in the sewers of the cit3\" 
Our "city forefathers,'' evidently started out with the deter- 
mination to make the sewers models of cleanliness. If the 
ordinance could be eaforccd, there would have been no trouble 
from sewer gas. In 1848, a sewer was constructed in Chapel 
street, in front of the property of the Auburn and Syracuse 
Kailroad Company, at a cost of $18.00. Two sewers were 
ordered constructed in July, 1850. One of them from " Con- 
sider Carter's, on State street, eastei'ly through the lower ground 
between Genesee street and Dill street, to a lane in the rear of 
the Methodist church, and thence across Water street, to the 
creek ; the other from Seymour street, south along Cross street 
to Wall street, and thence along Wall street, to the sewer pass- 
ing under the Prison wall. 

Each was " to be of stone, on plank foundations, one and 
one half feet wide, and one foot high in the clear." Loreu 
Patchen built the Cross street sewer, at a cost of $275.55, and 
the cost of the other was $393.07 ; who built this does not 
appear. At the same meeting, $121.87 was ordered assessed 
on property benefitted by a sewer on Water street ; this proba- 
bly was a continuation of the Green street sewer. At the 
same time $149.69 was ordered paid to Daniel Goodrich, for a 
sewer constructed by him on the west side of Hulbert street. 
In May, 1853, the " Committee reported in favor of construct- 
ino; a sewer from the court house alons the south side of Gen- 



SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 29 

esee street, to the Owasco outlet, to be constructed of stone, on 
a stone botton, with flag stone covering, to be four feet by two 
feet in the clear." June 20th, 1858, a contract was entered 
into with Daniel C. Goodrich, for the sum of $2,800.00. Sep- 
tember 12th, following, the committee reported the cost of the 
same to be $3,423.21, and that amount was ordered assessed 
on the propert}^ benefitted. Jul;/ 25th, 1853, a resolution 
rescinding the order of the Council for the construction of a 
sewer in Academy street, was introduced, and was very wisely 
held to be out of order, as the sewer was already completed, 
and the co.-<t of the same was reported to be $81.77. Novem- 
ber ]2th, 1353, a suit was reportel commenced against the 
city by Miller & Tibbals, on acctumt of the construction of 
the Genesee street sewer ; how it terminated the records do not 
show. 

Time will not admit of a further detailed statenient, of the 
-sevv'crs constructed. To this time, it is estimated that there is 
within the city lin:iits 26 miles of sewers; seven of which Vv'ere 
constructed by private parties. 

The number built by the order of the village and city is 60 ; 
of these, 36 were constructed prior to 1881, at a cost of 
$30,219.34; and since then to the present time, the number 
constructed is 24, and the cost $62,202.31, making the total 
cost $92,421.65. The private sewers are estimated at $10,000.00, 
making the whole cost of sewers to date $102,421.65. In this 
•connection an examination of the records of " Vital statistics " 
of the city, will be of interest. 

In 1882, the whole number of deaths in the city was 495 ; on 
the basis of a popuhition of 26,000, this is an annual death- 
rate equal to 1'^) 04-100 per 1,000 inhabitants. In 1883, the 
whole number of deaths was 339, equal to 15 35-100 per 1,000. 
In 1884, it was 389, equal to 14 96-100 per 1,000 ; and in 1885, 
it was 357, equal to 13 73-100 per 1,000. This is a reduction 
of 38 per cent, in the death-rate, between 1880 and 1886. 



30 SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN, 

This reduction, from whatever cause, is very remarkable. Oii 
the basis of the death-rate in 1882, the duration of life would 
be 52 52-100 years, and for 1885, 72 83-100 years. 

This reduction in the death-rate in the same ratio cannot be 
expected to indefinitely continue, as the duration of human 
life half a century hence would be 326 68-100 years; and the 
days and years of the oldest patriarch Methuselah, would be 
again reached, perhaps exceeded. We can, it is believed, give 
to the increase in sewerage facilities, a portion of the credit : 
and another portion to the increased use of Owascos water : 
another portion to the sanitary work of the Board of Health r 
and a portion of this very marked improvement must be set 
down to favorable conditions, not at present understood. It 
will no doubt be some time before this city reaches that degree 
of healthfulness claimed for some of the earlier western cities, 
where it was asserted, nobody died, and they found it necessary 
to "shoot a citizen to start a cemetery." 

The largest and most expensive work, was the Second ward 
sewer, nearly one mile in length, costing $23,932.91. This 
sewer was proposed as early as 1870, and a survey and esti- 
mate of the cost of the same made ; and this was repeated from 
time to time, different surveys being made, until 1881, when 
an act of the Legislature, providing for its construction was 
passed, the right of way secured, and the work undertaken. 

Unavoidable delay in commencing the work, made it impossi- 
ble to complete it before winter set in, and the work was con- 
tinued, and completed in 1882. Eobert Tate was the inspector, 
appointed at the commencement of the work, and gave good 
satisfaction to the tax-payers on the line of the sewer. The 
election of a new board of Aldermen in the spring following, 
had changed the political complexion of a majority of the 
council ; and on the afternoon of July 12 th, 1882, a call for a 
special meeting of the council that evening, signed by live 
Aldermen, was served on the other Aldermen, and the Mayor. 



SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 31 

Some one surmised the object of the meeting, and in a brief 
time, the names of the largest portion of the tax-payers along 
the route of the sewer was obtained to a remonstrance against 
the removal of Mr. Tate, and asking his continuance in the 
position. This was handed to the Mayor a few moments 
before the organization of the meeting, and he placed it in his 
pocket to wait events. A few minutes after the organization 
of the meeting, a resolution preceded by a preamble in the 
form of a 

Whereas, said sewer is not " being built in strict conformity 
to the specifications, etc.," and ending with declaring the office 
of Inspector of the Second ward sewer vacant. This was fol- 
lowed by the presentation, and readmg of the remonstrance of 
the tax-payers interested ; when the mover wisely concluded 
that it was best to, and did withdraw the resolution, and it was 
never renewed ; and Mr. Tate continued inspector to the com- 
pletion of the work. 

This case is given as an illustration of the pernicious tenden- 
cies of politics in the construction of works of a public char- 
acter. 

In the construction of sewers, everything depends on the 
character of the work; and the importance of selecting a com- 
petent man for the position of superintendent, or inspector, 
should not be lost sight of. 

The question will now be asked, what is the best system of 
sewerage and drainage for cities ? This question would receive 
from different persons, claiming to be experts on the subject, 
different answers; and the response from their hearers might 
well be, " When doctors disagree, who shnll decide ?" Without 
claiming to be an authority on the subject, you will permit us 
to give our views on the question, after briefly describing the 
principal systems now advocated and practiced. There is very 
generally in use in our cities what is 'mown as the combined 
system. This name has been applied to it somewhat recently, 



82 SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 

to distiiiguisli it from the separate, sometimes called the " war- 
ing sj'stem." There is also in use to some extent, what is called 
the " mixed system,'" or one which embraces to a certain extent, 
both of the preceding sj^stems. The combined system is that 
in which the rain fall, the sewage proper, and the street wash- 
ings, are received into, and flows in the same pipes and con- 
daits. The separate system, provides conduits, for the sewage 
proper only; and either provides separate conduits for the rain 
fall, and gutter flushings, or permits the same to flow off in the 
gutters at the side of the streets. The mixed system; embraces 
both of those described, the lateral sewers being of the separate 
system, and the main or trunk sewers of the combined system. 

Under this system, the rain fall is carried in the street gut- 
ters, to the streets where the larger, or trunk sewers are located. 

The objection to the combined system, is, that they must be 
constructed of large size, at increased expense, and of sufficient 
capacity to carry the greatest amount of niin fall that can take 
place at any time of the year; whilst at other seasons of the 
year, tlieir capacity is largel}' in excess of their requirements, 
and are liable, from an accumulation of filth in them, to gener- 
ate noxious gases, which will endanger the public health. 
Such sewers ai'e difficult and expensive to flush, and only 
receive it when a heavy rain fall occurs. The objections to the 
separate sj'stem, are that it is only adapted to a city, the streets 
of which are densly built up. 

That to attempt to build sewers, under the separate system, 
in sparsely built cities, or in sparsely built portions of cities, 
w^ould involve an expense for flushing that would be in excess 
of iis advantages. It is believed that it can onl}' be applied 
with success in crowded cities, with paved streets. If a sep- 
arate conduit is also laid in the streets for receiving and carry- 
ing off the rain fall and street flashings, the expense will exceed 
that of the combined system. 

Memphis has made trial of the separate system with a good 



SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 33 

degree of success, bat difficulties have arisen, either from 
deSciencj in size, or the increased demands made upon the 
pipe?, in some localities. It is a question whether any sewer 
system can be devised that will be equal to the requirements 
of the service, at all times, and under all conditions. 

A sewer adjusted to the requirements of the day time, would 
be largely in excess of the requirements of the night. 

The Water Works Company of this city, at the present time, 
is delivering hourly, from 6 o'clock A. M. to 10 o'clock p. m. 
twenty per cent more water than it delivers between the hours 
of 10 P. M. and 6 a. m., and under any system, sewers of 
smaller size would answer for the night, than would be required 
for day sewers. 

Flushing tanks working automaticalh', may be provided, 
with an abundant supply of water, and still it remains a ques- 
tion whether they have any advantages, even in densly popu- 
lated districts over the combined system. In all cities, there is 
more or less accumulation of filth on the streets, and with the 
separate system, this tilth to a certain extent, must either find 
an outlet by way of the street gutters, or a separate conduit for 
that purpose, and with 'every storm this must be swept into the 
conduits, or along the gutters. In a time of drouth, (which 
seldom occurs in this locality) flushing, by means of the fire 
hydrants, for which provision is made in the contract with the 
Water Company, should be resorted to. 

Believing that the combined system is well adapted to our 
city, we will now briefly describe what we believe to be the 
best way to a]:>ply it. or '• how it should be done." 

First of all, the proper material should be selected and prop- 
erly applied. For all sewers under two (2) feet in diameter, 
pipe tile should be used. Pipe of cement, if properly made, 
of first quality materials, is to be preferred. Such pipe 
increase in strength by time and use, and the sections can be 
so united as to give, what is of importance, a smooth internal 



84 sewers: ancient and modern. 

surface, of uniform diameter. The next is glazed, or vitrified 
claj pipe, made in sections of uniform diameter, internally and 
externally, with separate short sections, or rings, of the same 
material, for securing the abutting ends of the sections. This- 
kind of pipe, if properly laid, will give uniform smooth inter- 
nal conduit.* 

The next best, is the pipe with an enlarged socket end, for 
making connections. These are the most difficult to unite, so- 
as to produce a smooth, uniform channel. Pipe of all kinds^ 
should be provided with branches for connecting latteral sew- 
ers. Branches should not be united at right angles, but at a 
less angle, or in the form of a Y. Bends should be used,, 
where lateral sewers are laid at right angles to their mains.f 

For sewers over two (2) feet in diameter, brick is the cheap- 
est and the best : hard burnt brick only being used, and laid 
with good cement. The walls should alwavs be laid double, 
and with joints properly broken. Single brick sewers cannot 
be relied upon, as leakage of their contents is liable to take 
place from imperfect joints. The best form of brick sewers is 
the combination of two semi-circles, of different diameters, 
united by sections of an eclipse, forming what is generally 
known as an egg shaped. Sewers of this form must be laid a 
little deeper than the round ones of the same capacity, but the 
advantage of a more rapid flow of their contents when partly 
filled, will more than compensate for the small increased cost. 
The connection of all branches with mains, should, as far as 
possible, be made above the base line of the arch. Work of 
this character should not only be thoroughly done, but no infe- 
rior material should be used, at any price. 

In the construction of sewers in cities, the future as well as 
the present should be considered. Whilst the cost may be 
slightly increased, it will be cheaper than to enlarge from time 
to time, to meet the requirements of increased population on the 
same or adjacent territory. A carefully considered plan sh.ould 

* See Plates 13, 14, 19 and :M. 
+ See Plates 9, 13 and 14. 



SEWERS • ANCIENT AND MODERN. 35 

be adopted, embracing tlie whole city, or so much thereof as is 
embraced in one entire water shed. Main or trunk sewers 
should be first constructed, and be h^rge enough, and deep 
enough, to carry the accumulations of all the branches after- 
wards required. The branches should be laid deep enough to- 
give thorough drainage and sewerage to all buildings erected, 
or that may thereafter be erected, and to admit of the deepen- 
ing of shallow cellars, in houses already erected, and made so 
from necessity, by reason of lack of proper drainage when con- 
strvicted. 

The excavations should be made to conform to the outer 
contour of the sewer, whether constructed of brick or pipe, 
and should be laid in conformity to the grade given by the 
engineer. If of brick, the walls should be laid with double 
courses, in good cement, and at the spring of the arch, the 
brick should be laid as headers, to give increased strength. 
Ventilating flues should be laid up to the street grade, one 
every 150 feet, and capped with an iron frame and grating.'^" 
These ventilating flues should, as they approach the surface^ 
be enlarged so as to give the covering grate an area of opening 
at least equal to the area of the flue. At every point where 
the line of the sewer is changed in direction, manholes should 
be constructed and capped with a ventilating cover. This 
should be done without reference to the location of the street 
gulleys, or basins for receiving the street water. These venti- 
lating flues, rising from the crown of the sewer, will permit the 
gas to escape freely, and by its rapid difl!usion through the 
atmosphere become comparatively harmless, as well as inoffen- 
sive. The branches for receiving basins or gulleys, should be 
connected with the sewer at a low level, so as to avoid the 
escape of gas through them, that its entire volume may be dis- 
charged through the more direct "channel of the ventilating^ 
flues. 

The receiving basins should, as far as possible, be located at 

* See Plates 19 and 21. 



56 SEWERS: AXCIENT AND MODEKX. 

the corners of intersecting streets, and sliould be placed inside 
of the curb-stone. They should have sand traps, or basins, 
•oi sufficient size and depth below their outflow, to contain at 
least twenty-seven cubic feet. Without receiving basins, the 
heavier material washed by heavy rains, from unpaved streets, 
will find a lodgment in the sewer, and retard the flow of liquid 
filth, and produce an excess of noxious gases. The inlet for 
the water should be through a hole in the curb stone, protected 
by an iron grate or bar. The basin should have a flag stone 
covering, with a hole large enough for a man to enter, secured 
by a removable iron cover. The silt collected in these basins, 
should be removed often enough to prevent their overflow, and 
■discharge of silt into the sewer. 

All necessary house branches, (including vacant lots), should 
be constructed with the street sewer, extended to the curb- 
stone, and a durable mark set to indicate the jioints where they 
terminate. They should be connected with their street mains 
at a point above the center or spi'ing of the arch, Y's and 
bends being used in making the connection ; and in pipe sew- 
ers, less than one foot in diameter, the connection can be tnade 
on top.* The survey and map, made by the engineer, should 
distinctly show not only the route of the sewer, but the exact 
location of the house branches. Soft spots in the bottom of 
trenches should be replaced by hard material ; and where quick 
sand is met with, wood inverts should be used. In laying pipe 
sewers, if the sections have socket ends, or when using straight 
sections with ring couplings, the excavations should be enlarged 
at the points where the ends unite, so as to give the sections of 
the pipe a firm bearing between the sockets or ring couplings, 
•or there will be danger of breakage or displacement by the 
weight of the earth above, forcing tlie pipes out of align- 
inent.f The connecting joints should be cemented with the 
best hydraulic cement, and care should be taken to have the 
internal channel in line. This can only be done in pipes hav- 

* See Plates 13 and 14. 
t Sf e Plates S and 5. 



SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 87 

ing socketed ends, by coating the lower half of the socket end 
with cement, before inserting the end of the following pipe, 
and adjusting the same internally by a straight edge, of at 
least the length of three sections of the pipe. When properly 
adjusted, the upper portion of the pipe can be thoroughly 
cemented. Before another is added, the joint on the inside 
should be filled with cement, and brought to a line with the 
internal surface of the pipe. 

This can readily be done by a wooden float, shaped to a sec- 
tion of the inner circle of the pipe. This will produce a smooth 
channel, for the flow of its fluid contents. In filling the exca- 
vation, the earth should be thoroughly tamped as fast as put in, 
to a point one foot above the crown of the arch. No sewer 
should be constructed, except under the superintendence and 
inspection of a competent person, who should insist that the 
specifications (which should be clear and explicit on all points), 
be carried out to the letter. 

Politics should be ignored in tlie appointment of a sewer 
inspector : competency should be the requirement. If street 
repairs and improvements are improperly or imperfectly done, 
the defect can be seen by all with open eyes, who walk or ride ; 
but defects in sewers once concealed, mischief unsuspected may 
follow. 

The question of sub-soil, or deep drainage, as well as sewer- 
age, is one that should demand our attention, and in cities 
should be considered therewith.* With sewers properly con- 
structed, so that no escape of their contents can take place, 
(except at their points of discharge) ; it is evident that some 
provision must be made, for relieving the soil of an excess of 
earth water in many localities. 

It is of importance to keep the sewerage, and deep drainage 
separate, as far as practicable. This can best be done, by laying- 
lines of common drain tile on each side of the latteral sewers, 
and extending branches to, and around to the outside of the 

* See Plates 20 and 21 . 



<;8 SEWERS : ANCIENT AND MODERN. 

iniundiitioii walls of the buildings, and placing a few inches of 
clean gravel on the tile, before returning the earth.* This will 
except in rare cases, protect cellars from objectionable damp- 
ness. If from springs in the cellar bottom, or the building occu" 
pjing the entire lot, it becomes necessary to extend the drain 
tile within the walls, it should be provided with a trap, located 
within the walls, so that it can at all times be easily inspected- 
If the flow of water from the cellar is not at all times sufficient 
to keep the trap full, it will be advisable to provide for the 
discharge of a portion of the roof water through it. In cel- 
lars with good cement floors, drain tile can be extended within, 
and around inside of the foundation walls, with but little danger 
from the escape of noxious gases; provided the drainage sys- 
tem is not united with the sewer system ; except at consider- 
able distance from the dwelling. As an additional precaution 
the drain tile may be ventilated in the same manner as the 
sewer and soil pipe, as hereafter described. Having provided 
good sewerage and drainage, outside of our dwellings, unless 
the fixtures and plumbing inside are also good, the work has 
been worse than useless, as an avenue for disease, and perhaps 
death to enter, has been provided. It is the poisonous germs 
contained in the accompanying vapor, (and which may not have 
an offensive smell), that gives to "sewer gas " its deleterious 
properties. Gases that would be harmless, diffused through 
the atmosphere outside of your dwellings, become deadly 
poison when introduced into the confined space of dwellings, 
and especially sleeping rooms.f 

In connection with the question under consideration, permit 
us to relate our [)ersonal experience. In the early part of Janu- 
ary 1866, three members of our family were stricken down 
with typhoid fever. The attending physician, Dr. Hall, ex- 
pressed in a decided manner, the opinion, that the sickness was 
due to the unsanitary condition of the premises occupied, and 
that the drainage, sewerage, or plumbing, must be defective. 

* See Plates 20 and 21 . 
t See Plate 6. 



SEWERS : AXCIEN'T AND MODERN", 39 

A carpenter was callei in, a portion of the floor in the hall of 
basement removed ; and in the earth below, rat holes were 
found, wliich on removal of the earth, were found to commu- 
nicate with an imperfectly constructed sewer, permitting the 
free escape of gas, which found its way to the rooms above 
through cracks in the floor and openings in the partition walls. 
A basement heater that took its supply of air from the ball, 
sent the gas through its hot air flues, direct to the living and 
sleeping rooms above, to poison the occupants. This house 
was one of a block of five, and this sewer served for all the 
houses. The house was occupied on a lease, at a moderate 
rental, having more than two years to run. The landlord 
declined to do more than patch up the sewer, but did not object 
to its being done at his tenants' expense. It was so done. 

The old sewer was entirely removed, and a cement pipe sewer, 
with joints well cemented, laid in its place. By the side of this 
was laid drain tile, extending to the street sewer in the manner 
we have heretofore described. In a residence of eight years 
afterwards, no difficulty from that source was experienced, and 
we can see no reason why, that sewer should be found any dif- 
ferent now except that the pipe would be found harder and 
;-:ronger than when laid twenty years ago. There is always 
danger however, from the breakage or displacement of cement 
■or vitrified pipes used for sewer purposes, and to ensure safety 
iron only should be used inside of the basements, or cellars of 
buildings.* 

Poor fixtures, material, and workmanship, will be dear at 
any price. 

First-class material only should be used, and first class work- 
men employed, as on the perfection of the work the safety of 
the occupants depend. The pipes and fixtures should be so 
located, and arranged, as to be easily accessible for inspection. 
It is much better to have the pipes and fixtures exposed to 
view, at all times, than have them concealed in partition walls, 

* See Plates 2 and 5. 



40 .sewers: a^'CIENT and modern. 

or under tioors, where they caii on!y be reached by env.v.^vi ■_- 
the carpenter and mason. 

All soil pipes should extend above the roof, and to prti-veiii 
syphonage, all traps, large and .small, should be ventilated by 
a separate pipe of sutBcient size, extended above the rooi 
Si^il pipes should not only extend above the roof, but should 
be continued down, and outside of the foundation walls of the 
building, and terminate in a running trap.* This pipe should 
liave united with it, inside of the trap, a vertical pipe of the 
same size as the soil pipe, which should extend above the sur- 
face of the ground, and have its open end protected by a hood 
or cowl.f This serves for the admission of fresh air, to produce 
an upward current in the soil pipe. Such }K»rtions of the soil 
pipe as are placed under ground, should receive a thick coating 
of Portland cement, which will effectually protect the outside 
from oxidation. In laying the soil pipe, angles should be 
avoide<l, by the use of curves and bends. Chimney ventilation 
is in some cases resorted to. This is carried out by continuing 
a branch from the soil pipe up through, and above the top of a 
chimney flue.:}: 

Oakum and lead should be usetl in making the joints, which 
should be thor»)ughly calked. When the work is completed 
the same should be thoroughly tested. This can best be done 
bv plugging all the openings below the roof, and filling the 
pipe with water, or by pouring a small quantity of oil of pep- 
permint into the pipe, followed by two or three pailsful of hot 
water, and closing the opening in the pipe, when any defect in 
the pipe, or its joints, will be detected by odor of the pepper- 
mint. 

Examine closely the closets otfered you. before selecting one. 

Do not be captivated by a name, or you may be afterwards 
forcibly reminded of the couplet, " Whats in a name ? that 
which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet "^ 
All other conditions being equal, closets with separate flushing 

* See Plates 14. IT and IS. 
t See Plate 17. 
t See Plate IS. 
i See Plate 3. 



sewers: ancient and modern. 41 

tanks are to be preferred ; as with such an arrangement, danger 
from contamination of the v*\iter in the supply pipe,' by dimin- 
ished pressure in the street mains, is avoided. Select basins 
having large discharge and overflow orifices, and you will 
escape damage to ceilings by overflowing basins. 

Trap baths and basins, independent of each other.* Avoid 
carrying water pipes up, or along outside walls, unless you 
desire the services of a plumber with every recurrence of zero 
weather. Place lead sinks under all closets, basins and bath 
tubs, and extend a })i})e from the same to the basement or cel- 
lar, M'ith its open end exposed, that leakage may be detected. 
Have stop cocks with handles, put on the supply pipes, so that 
the water can be shut ofi! at any moment, without going to the 
cellar, hunting for a wrench, or sending for a plumber. If 
your work is to be dimo by contract, have yonr specifications 
as full and perfect in every detail, as they can be made; be 
prepared to pay a fair price for good work, and do not accept 
poor work or material at any price. If in the progress oi the 
work changes are suggested, be satisfied that the change is an 
improvement before you adopt it. Remember that pipe^ 
wrenches, a man, a boy helper, and five dollars per day, will 
not always ensure good work. Inspect the work as it pro- 
gresses; see that all the pipes, large and small, are properly 
supported, and all joints water and gas tight. Do not suffer 
any portion of the work to be concealed from view until it is 
carefully and thoroughly examined. If you doubt your abil- 
ity to decide the C![uestion, call in some one who has had more 
experience. In conclusion, permit us to say, if you are satis- 
fied from your own experience, and the reported experience of 
others, that the drainage, sewerage and plumbing of this city 
are not what they should be, and that the health of yourself, 
your family, and the health of your neighbors, " the public," 
will be benefitted by improving the same, unite with them in 
an earnest effort to make it what it should be. 

* See plate 14. 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX. 



In preparing the preceding paper read before the " Historical Society," it 
became necessary, for a proper understanding of the sewer system of this city, 
to examine the records of the village and city. In doing so, brief extracts were 
made from the records, which at the conclusion of the investigation were found 
to be too voluminous for one evening's reading — and from necessity were omitted, 
and are therefore now added as an appendix to complete the history to this time. 

July 21, 1S56, $459.18 the cost of Academy street sewer was ordered assessed 
on property benefitted. 

August 23rd, $210.95 was ordered assessed on property benefitted by a sewer 
constructed in Pine street. 

November 27th, 1856, $442.78 was ordered assessed on property benefitted by 
the construction of a sewer in James street. 

July 13th, 1857, $155.99 was ordered collected from owners of property bene- 
fitted by a sewer in Court street. 

August loth, 1857, Jonas White having constructed a sewer from the Genesee 
street sewer along his property in Exchange street at a cost of $200.00, it was 
resolved that said Exchange property shall be credited with that amount in any 
assessment made for sewer construction in Exchange, that, and until said sewer 
is made a public work by order of the city, no person by authority of the city 
shall be permitted to tap said sewer without the consent of said White or the 
owner of said Western Exchange. 

February i8th, 1858, $184.09 the cost of a sewer on Seymour street was 
ordered assessed, on property benefitted. 

August i6th, 1858, $49.10 was ordered paid Henry Lewis, for building a 
sewer on East Genesee street. 

June 25th, i860, $25.00 to W. Ostrander, for Canal street sewer. 

June 29th, 1863, E. H. Groot was granted permission to construct a sewer 
from his place on William street to the Genesee street sewer. 

September 7th, 1863, $655.05 was ordered assessed on property benefitted by 
the West VanAnden street sewer. 

May 25th. 1866, the street committee were empowered to build a sewer of 
stone in State street, 2 feet wide and 3 feet high. This sewer was changed to 
brick, but by what authority does not appear. 

October i, 1866, the committee reported the completion of sewers in Clark, 
Seymour and State streets. The cost of Seymour, between Washington and 



46 APPENDIX. 

Cross streets was $1,115.00, and that of Clark street, cannot be obtained from 
the record. 

June 19th, 1867, $1,683.00 was ordered assessed, to pay for the branch of 
the Owasco street sewer. 

August 1 2th, 1867, committee reported the completion of sewers through 
Fuhon, Hoffman, Owasco and Lizzette streets. 

December 7th, 1868, $1,013.25 ordered assessed on property benefitted by 
sewer from Walnut to Augustus streets. 

December 2Sth, $497.40 the cost of sewer from Augustus street, ordered 
assessed. 

August 9th, 1869, sewer in State street from VanAnden street to the Owasco 
outlet, ordered constructed of brick 2j^ feet in diameter. 

July nth, 1870, the question of a sewer from the intersection of Hamilton 
with Burt avenue, running thence northerly to the Owasco outlet, at an esti- 
mated cost of $8,702.75 was presented, and notice of its intended construction 
ordered published. August 15th, remonstrances against its construction were 
received and laid on the table. 

Oct. 17th, 1870, the City Attorney was directed toattend the meetings and 
" see that all the proceedings in relation to sewers now before the council are 
regularly conducted." 

February 6th, 1871, John H. Chedell and others were authorized to construct 
a sewer on the west side of South street. 

May 15th, 1871, on the recommendation of the City Attorney, a committee 
of three was appointed by the Mayor, to be known as the "Committee on 
Drains and Sewers." This is the first time that a committee, with the special 
duty of looking after the drainage and sewerage of the city appears. 

July iSth, 1871, the sewer committee reported that they were unable to pur- 
chase the lands required for the proposed sewer, from Hamilton avenue north 
to Owasco outlet, and no further action at that time appears to have been taken. 

July 24th, 1871, notice was ordered published that the Council proposed alter- 
ing the Genesee street sewer, west from Court street, at a cost of $5,098.50. 
A number of sewers proposed is observable in the records for this year. Octo- 
ber 2d the committee reported adversely to the construction of the Genesee 
street sewer. 

March 17th, 1872, another survey of the Genesee street sewer was ordered, 
and March 26th the surveyor, John S. Clark, reported its completion and the 
estimated cost to be $5,087.25. This report was adopted, and the publication 
of an order for a hearing ordered, 

April 1st, 1872, the construction of a sewer in the Second Ward from inter- 
section of Burt with Hamilton avenue north to the outlet, was declared neces. 
sary, and a survey ordered ; at the same meeting the Surveyor reported that a 
survey had been made and the cost as estimated would be $6,390. A notice of 



At'PENDlX. 47 

hearing was ordered published. April 15th, the day of hearing, no one appear- 
ing for or against its construction, action was postponed to April 22d, when no 
one appearing in opposition, the sewer was ordered constructed of brick, 3 feet 
in diameter in the clear, from Hamilton avenue to the south side of Logan 
street, and from that point to north line of Grover street, of stone, with walls 
i^z foot thick, on hemlock plank, with an opening 9 feet square in the clear, 
and covered with stone not less than four inches thick. From Grover street to 
lands of Mary E. P. Morgan, of stone with a capacity of 12 square feet, and 
the committee on streets and bridges with the City Attorney and Surveyor were 
directed to negotiate with parties for the right of way. 

June 3rd, 1872, the Mayor and City Clerk were directed to execute a contract 
with Isaac Sisson for the construction of the west end of the Genesee street 
sewer, and with George F. Little, for the east end, also with Isaac Sisson for 
the construction of the John street sewer. 

June 24th, 1872, the survey for a sewer in Franklin street at a cost of $4,785.00 
was reported by the Surveyor. 

July 8th, $1,404.00 was ordered assessed on the owners of property benefitted 
by the construction of the west end of Genesee street sewer ; and they were also 
directed to assess $5,507.00 the cost of a sewer constructed in Orchard street, 
this assessment was set aside by the council. September i6th, 1872, a new one 
ordered, and October 7th, the council by resolution abandoned the Orchard 
street sewer, and ordered a reconveyance of right of way to John Sullivan, and 
the destruction of a check for $500.00 returned by Sullivan. 

November 8th, 1872, the street .superintendent reported the completion of 
the Columbian Block sewer at a cost of $198.14. 

A deficiency of $376.40 was reported on the Genesee street sewer, and the 
assessors were directed to assess that amount to make up the deficiency. The 
entire cost of this Genesee street sewer enlargement was $3,327.40. 

The sum of $603.61 the cost of John street sewer was ordered assessed- 
Under the charter then in force, assessments were made preliminary to the con- 
struction of the work, and deficiencies which often occurred were made up by 
subsequent assessments. Under this system it is difficult to determine, when 
some of the sewers were constructed or what was their actual cost. 

July 7th, 1872, a sewer was ordered constructed on Owasco street at an esti- 
mated cost of $2,600.00, to run from the center of Walnut to Genesee street, 
to be made of brick, laid in cement, and 12 inches internal diameter. At the 
same meeting a sewer of brick, 20 inches in diameter, beginning at intersection 
of Owasco street, and extending to the Owasco outlet, at an estimated cost of 
$1,879.00. A sewer was also ordered on Nelson street, commencing at junc- 
tion of Lansing street, running thence southerly along said street, to the sewer 
crossing said street near Seymour street, to be made of brick 12 inches in diame- 
ter at an estimated cost of $1,583.00. 



48 APPENDIX. 

September 15th, 1S73, a sewer was ordered constructed in East Genesee street 
from the Owasco outlet to a point near the cast line of lot occupied by Orlando 
Lewis, to be of brick, 3 feet internal diameter, at an estimated cost of $1,750.00. 

October 6th, 1873, the assessors were directed to assess $1,571.00, the esti- 
mated cost of a sewer in James street, to Clark, and through McMaster, to the 
Owasco outlet. November 17th, this assessment was ordered set aside, and a 
new one made. 

An assessment of $290.91 was ordered to make up the deficiency on the John 
street sewer, the original assessment being S909. 50. 

May 4th, 1874, brick sewer ordered constructed on State street from the bridge 
to the north line of Seymour street, the first 50 rods to be 2 feet, in diameter, 
and 23 rods to be 20 inches, at an estimated cost of $2,311.00. Also a sewer 
ordered constructed in Seminary and Nelson streets, at a cost of $1,101.00, the 
portion in Seminary street, to be 8 inch cement tile, and in Nelson street, 12 
inch tile. This appears to be the first tile sewer ordered. 

Tune 9th, 1874, the contract for the construction of the Lansing, Nelson, 
State and Owasco streets sewers was awarded to Sidney Mead, and $1,698.00 
ordered assessed for the Owasco street sewer, and $2,311.00 for the State street 
sewer. 

July 13th, 1874, a sewer in Gaylord street was ordered at an estimated cost of 
$1,036.00 and amount ordered assessed. 

Julv 20th, 1874, Mayor ordered to contract with .Sidney Mead, to construct 
Owasco street sewer, 7 instead of 6 feet deep at a cost of $75 00. 

August 3rd, 1874, the State street sewer was reported completed, and assess- 
ment for Lansing and Nelson streets sewers ordered. 

February 15th, 1875, committee on drains and sewers reported that Michael 
Powers had completed the Fitch avenue sewer, at an expense of $353.46, and 
that said sewer commences 15 feet south from the north line of Fitch avenue, 
and 47 links from the southwest corner of Martin H. Hump's lot, thence south 
I deg. 45 min. west i chain and 50 links, across said avenue 51 feet, and 48 
feet across land of Stephen Hoyt, thence south 50 deg. west across the lands of 
Henry B. Fitch, 5 chains and 10 links to the creek, as will particularly appear 
by map and survey, of Stephen Hoyt and Henry B. Fitch the owner, the city 
purchased the right of way, and assessment ordered on the same. Committee 
also reported a balance of $2,388.80 due Sidney Mead, for the construction of 
the State, Lansing, Nelson, Owasco and Gaylord street sewers. 

February 24th, 1875, council ordered sewer constructed on Orchard street, 
commencing on Jefferson street, running thence west 26 chains 75 links to 
Division street, north along Division street 6 chains 50 links to Underwood 
street, thence westerly on Underwood street i chain 94 links, thence north 20 
deg. 30 min. west 5 chains across private property owned by Catharine Kervvin, 
to the New York Central Railroad, and across said road about i chain and 50 



49 

APPENDIX. *^ 

links, thence northwester! v two chains to a sink hole, on the P^^^P^' f'^^ 
Auburn Manufacturing Co. At this meeting the assessors were d-cted to 
assess on property benefitted S3.585.O4, the estimated cost of a sewer m Frank 
^n street 'beginning at a point 4 rods west of ^^^^ ^'^^^^^^^'X 'Tl; Z's 
nin^r west 27 chains. 90 links to North street, thence southerly 2 chams 21 hnk 
to The Owasco outlet, 17 chains. 90 links from place of begmmng. to be i 
inches internal diameter, 10 chains following to North street, is to be 2 feet, and 
2 chams, 21 links to the outlet. 30 inches in diameter. 

May i8th 1876, George Barber was granted the privilege of constructing a 
.private sew^r from his home east on the north side of Genesee, and across it 
and connect with Genesee street sewer at Court street. 

September 4th, sewer committee reported that the Auburn Manufacturing 
Co w^"d not ;onsent to having th3 Orchard street sewer terminate in the 
rock onening on their premises. , ^ , ^v, ^ 

"ulv 8th. 1877. committee reported on the petition of John H. Osborne that 
they did n^t th Lc a sewer on Fort street a public necessity, and that a large 
ni fority of the people were opposed to it. July x6th. John H Osborne was 
grafted permission to construct a private sewer in Fort street, from his prem- 
ises No. 14, to Genesee street sewer. 

\pril 14 1878, James G. Knapp was granted permission to construct a private 
sewer on Elizabeth street, from his house to the sewer crossing said street. 

Tulv 1st 1873. sewer ordered constructed of stone in Orchard street, com- 
mencing Jt the west line of Jefferson street, thence westerly 107 ^o^s thence 
north atong Division street, i chain 50 links, from its i--^"-;^ !; f „^^ ^• 
thence north ..% deg. east, x chain 79 Hnks across lauds of ^-1 ael Carl n 
to south line of Clark street, thence on the same course i chain 8 inks to the 
north line of Clark street, near the west corner of Factory and Clark streets, 
thence north 25 deg. east, i chain 75 links to the Owasco outlet on the east side 
of the bridge. This sewer was to be 14 inches wide and 18 inches high or 79 
rods west of Jefferson street, and 20 inches wide and 24 high for the balance, 
and walls to be 1 foot thick, and covered with gray lime stone not less than four 
inches thick. S3,i53.8o the estimated cost was ordered assessed on owners of 
property benefitted, at a special meeting July 15th. 1878 the previous specifi- 
cations were re-considered and amended specifications adopted, and proposals 
for its construction ordered advertised. 

July 15th 1^73, an assessment of $3,389.45 was ordered, being the estimated 
CO t of a s;wer of brick on Franklin street, 215 44-100 rods long, x66 60-xoo 
rods X5 inches in diameter. 40 rods 24 inches in diameter, and 8 84-100 rods 28 

'"Py SOttTsJtthe contract for the construction of the Orchard street sewer 
was awarded to Charles B. Koon. 



50 Ai'PENDll. 

September i6th, the contract for the construction of the Franklin street sewer 
was awarded to Sisson & Ocobock. 

March 17th, 1S79, the following was presented to the Council : 
To the Hon. the Common Council : 

The undersigned citizens, residents of the Second and Ninth wards, respect- 
fully represent to your honorable body that we are suffering very much from 
want of proper sewerage. The great basin from Burt's woods (so called) along 
the line of the old water course, to the Owasco outlet at Genesee street bridge, 
has no sewer to carry off the water, and as a consequence, nearly every residence 
along the course named has water in the cellar. The health and comfort of 
the people, and the reasonable enjoyment of their property imperatively demand 
some relief, and we trust that your Honorable Board will take such steps speedily 
as will afford the necessary relief. And your petitioners will ever pray, etc. 
Signed by Homer N. Lockwood and forty-nine others. 

In response to this the committee on drains and sewers were directed to inves- 
tigate the necessity for a sewer as described in the petition presented, and 
report to the board with recommendations as to route, size, material, etc. 

April 2ist, 1879. U. A. Wright, City Surveyor, reported that he had made a 
survey for a sewer, beginning in the north line of Hamilton avenue, and extend- 
ing to the curb on the south side of Grover street, the whole length 2,143 feet, 
or 129/^ rods ; the depth at Grover street to be I2j^ feet below top of curb, 
and 9 feet 2 inches from top of curb at L.ogan street to bottom of sewer, and at 
Hamilton avenue 4 85-100 feet deep, the fall from Hamilton avenue to Logan 
street, being but half an inch to the rod. 

June i6th, 1879, the committee on drains and sewers, reported that they had 
examined the question of a sewer through the great basin to Burt's woods (so 
called), " and find that said locality is in great and immediate need of a sewer 
for perfect drainage, and as a sanitary precaution against malarial, and other 
contagious diseases, and your committee deem it for the best interests of the 
property owners, in said locality that a circular brick sewer be constructed three 
feet six inches in diameter from the north line of Grover street to Hamilton 
avenue, and your committee would recommend that said sewer be put down on 
a line, and grade to be adopted, and determined by the Common Council, 
regardless of any culvert, bridge or sewer to be found on said line. Signed, 

H, J. WHITE, 
PATRICK E. DONNELLY. 

March 5th, 1880, Council ordered a survey for a sewer from Hamilton avenue 
to Swift street, and report the best kind of material for such work. April 19th, 
1880, the surveyor reported the survey made, and that the length would be 
88 72-100 rods, and that circular or elliptic would be the best shape, not being 
so liable to clog up with deposited matter, but the square form will be better as 
the top of the sewer will be near the surface of the ground at several points, 



APPENDIX. 51 

and this form, will be less liable to injury. I therefore recommend a square 
stone sewer, of 3 feet inside measurement as the proper shape, material and 
size for the proposed sewer. 

June 7th, 1S80, the committee on drains and sewers, reported in favor of 
constructing a sewer 60 rods long in Augustus street, to connect with Anna 
street sewer, as shown by the survey and map presented by the surveyor. The 
committee did not approve, but the council adopted the survey and map of sewer 
from Hamilton avenue to Swift street, as being part of what is known as the 
Second ward sewer, and the committee were directed to examine the map of the 
proposed Second ward sewer, and report to the Board whether the same was 
complete for adoption. June 21st, 18S0, sewer on Augustus street ordered con- 
structed, and Clerk to advertise for proposals, and the City Surveyor was 
directed to prepare plans and specifications for the construction of a tubular 
brick sewer in the Second ward on the route adopted. 

August 2nd, 1880, City Attorney reported that he had seen a number of the 
property owners along the route of the proposed Second ward sewer, as to the 
right of way, and no definite answers have been obtained, except some of those 
seen, announce their determination of fighting from the start. 

September 6th, 1880, a remonstrance signed by forty tax-payers of North 
street, against building a sewer in that street, for the reason : 

First — The taxes for this year have been very burdensome and as much as we 
could bear. 

Second — That many have private sewers built at our own expense, which 
afford abundant sewerage for our private use. 

Third — It would put us to additional expense, and to more of us useless 
expense, and great damage to put drains from our premises to connect with the 
public sewer when built. 

August 23rd, 1880, Augustus street sewer was reported completed and $629.00 
the cost was ordered assessed, on property benefitted. 

February 7th, i88r, Health Officer Dr. John Gerin, reported to the Council 
that the city was without proper and adequate sewerage, and recommended that 
" a topographic sanitary survey of the city be made and that a uniform and 
connected plan be adopted for the sewerage and drainage of the city," and 
recommended the adoption of the following resolution : 

^''Resolved, That the Common Council of the City of Auburn, respectfully 
petition the Legislature of the State to authorize the State Board of Health to 
appoint a sanitary engineer to the end that uniformly proper and competent 
surveys and plans of drainage and sewerage may thereby be obtained by all 
cities and towns which may need them. " In this connection the Doctor discussed 
the importance of providing a supply of good drinking water, and the danger 
from the use of water from wells in city houses connected with cess-pools and 
privy vaults, and recommended that the Water Company be required to extend 



52 APPENDIX. 

their mains to deep water in the lake." Dr. Dimon being present, endorsed the 
views of Dr. Gerin. 

March 2ist, i8Si, the committee on drains and sewers reported that they had 
met the lot owners, along the line of the Second ward sewer, and conferred 
with them in regard to obtaining the right of way for the same, that a portion 
would give the right, and a portion sell, but at what price, the committee could 
not ascertain, and asked for further time for the matter. 

It had become evident that, difficulties would arise, and perhaps lead to serious 
complications, if the construction of the sewer was attempted under the exist- 
ing charter. By the advice of competent lawyers, a bill was drawn, and on the 
20th of April, i38i, the Common Council adopted a proposed act providing for 
the construction of a sewer in the Second ward, and asked our Senator and 
Members of Assembly, to procure the passage of the same at the earliest possi- 
ble moment. This act was duly passed by the Legislature, and embraced as a 
sewer district all territory within the water-shed of the valley, in which the 
sewer was located, a large portion of the route being over private property. By 
a map duly recorded in the County Clerk's office, the district to be assessed was 
duly defined and the route of the sewer laid down. 

May gth, 1881, the City Surveyor reported survey and map of sewer on Lewis 
street, 14 chains and 75 links, to begin 2 chains 57 links from Genesee street, 
and run to the Franklin street sewer, at an estimated cost of $930.00 ; also one 
in, Lincoln street, 709)^ feet long, to intersect the Second ward sewer, at a cost 
of $611.00. July 7th, i38i, the City Attorney reported to the Council that the 
deeds of right of way had been obtained of all the property owners on the line 
of the proposed Second ward sewer. At this meeting the City Treasurer 
reported that there was an apparent balance in the treasury of $514.13 to the 
contingent fund, but the amount of the Council's audit to C. Wheeler, Jr., to 
pay for right of way for the Second ward sewer, had not been paid, thus leaving 
the fund in reality overdrawn to the amount of $886.87. July 25th, specifica- 
tions and plans for the Second ward sewer were adopted. The sewer was 
divided into 4 sections. 

No. I. Extended from the outlet in Genesee street, to the north line of 
Lincoln street, a distance of 6475-2 feet or 39)^ rods. 

No. 2, P'rom the north line of Lincoln, to the north line of Grover street, 
568 92-100 feet or 34 48-100 rods. 

No. 3. From the north line of Grover, to the south face of the man-hole in 
Hamilton avenue, 2,251 92-100 feet or 136 48-100 rods. 

No. 4. From the center of Hamilton avenue to the south line of Swift 
street 1,549 38-100 feet or 93 9-10 rods. 

The two first sections were to be built of stone with an internal diameter of 
3 feet wide and 4 feet high. Section No. 3, was to be of brick, circular, 3^ 
feet internal diameter. Section No. 4, of brick, circular, 2^ feet internal 



APPENDIX. ^^ 

diameter. The Clerk was directed to advertise for proposals, for the construc- 
tion of the Second ward, and the Seymour street sewers. _ 

At the meeting August 24th. 188 i, the contract for the construction of the 
fir^ secaon S L Second tard sewer was awarded to H S. C. Sweetmg at 
$160000; and the second, third and fourth sections, John O. Smith, at 
$18,447.00 or a total of $20,047.00, and the Mayor and Clerk ordered to enter 
Lot contract with the parties named. August 31st, the draft of a cont,.ct 
with the parties was presented to the Council, by it approved and the Mayor 
and Clerk directed to execute it. September 5th, 1881, the Council fixed the 
cost of the Second ward sewer at $23,000.00. and directed the assessors to assess 
the benefits on the lands and premises within the boundaries described in Chap- 
ter 210, laws of 1881, entitled an act providing for the construction of a sewer 
in the City of Auburn, and the act amendatory thereof. 

September 6th, 1881, the Lewis street sewer was reported completed, at a 
cost of $061.25, and the Assessors ordered to assess the same on property ben- 
efitted, and the' Seymour street sewer completed at a cost of ^386 40 was a^o 
ordered assessed on property owners according to benefit; and the Lincoln 
street sewer at a cost of $579-48. was also ordered assessed , and a sewer 
ordered constructed on Washington street, to begin i chain and 95 ^^f ^""'■f 
of the north line of Genesee street, thence north in the center of the 7 
chains to a point 20 feet south of the north line of Clark street, thence westerly 
about 8 rods along the present sewer, in accordance with map and survey on 
file in the Clerk's office, and an advertisement for proposals for construction of 
the same ordered. 

September loth, Robert Tate appointed inspector of the Second Ward sewer 
at $2 00 per day. as his compensation. September 19th, Committee on Drains 
and Sewers reported that they had notified Robert Tate of his appointment 
and instructed'him to be on duty at 7 A- M. and remain until 6 - - • - - 
allow no deviation from the specifications ,n its construction. At the same 
meeting the Mavor and Clerk were directed to enter into a contract with Sisson 
&Ocobockfor 'the construction of the Washington street sewer in accordance 
with their bid. October 3rd. i88r, the Mayor reported a defect in the bid 
which was for lo-inch pipe, while the specification was for 1="-^^' />;:f "^^f 
it necessary to advertise for new proposals. On June 3rd, 1882 tbe Clerk was 
directed to advertise anew for proposals for construction of the Washington 

street sewer, 

Tulv3rd 1882, Clerk directed to advertise for proposals for constructmga 
sewer in South and Grover streets. This sewer was to begin at a point in 
South street where a private sewer crossed that street, and extended into Grover 
street and connected with the Second Ward sewer. r> u . ^ . 

July I2th, at a special meeting, an attempt was made to displace Robert Tate 
"s Inspector of the Second Ward sewer, by declaring the place vacant. Fortu- 



54 APPENDIX 

nately some one obtained a knowledge of the object of the special meeting, 
and placed in the hands of the Mayor a remonstrance numerously signed by 
the property owners along the line of the sewer, with the request that the same 
be presented if the motion was made. The remonstrance produced the with- 
drawal of the motion and Mr. Tate remained Inspector of the vSecond Ward 
sewer until its completion. 

July 17th, 1882, remonstrances numerously signed were presented against the 
construction of sewers in Elizabeth and Grover and l,ogan streets. 

September 14th, 1882, the Mayor and Clerk were directed to enter into a con- 
tract with John O. Smith for the construction of the Logan street sewer, and 
with L. G. Perkins for the Grover and South street sewers. 

October 24th, 1882, Robert Tate reported the entire cost of the Second Ward 
sewer to be $23,932.01. The length of the second, third and fourth sections 
of the Second ward sewer, as reported by Surveyor Wright, was 4,475 46-100 
feet or 105 24-100 in excess of the original survey. 

September 12th, 18S1, the assessors were directed to assess cost of sewer 
constructed on Seymour between State and Cross streets, the amount being 
$386.40. At the same meeting they were directed to assess $961.25, the cost 
of Lewis street sewer between East Genesee and Franklin streets ; and at the 
same meeting $579.48, the cost of Lincoln street sewer, between Mechanic and 
the second Ward Sewer. 

Tune 19th, 1882, sewer ordered on Washington street, commencing two chains 
north of Genesee street, and running to and connecting with a sewer in Clark 
street. 

September 14th, 1882, Mayor and City Clerk ordered to enter into a contract 
with John O. Smith, for the construction of a sewer in Logan street. And at 
the same meeting were ordered to enter into a contract with L. G. Perkins, for 
the construction of a sewer in South and Grover streets. 

November 13th, 1882, $600.49, the cost of South and Grover street sewer 
was ordered assessed. 

November 13th, 1882: $1,660.73, the cost of Washington street sewer, was 
ordered assessed. 

December iSth. 1SS2, $1,116.28, the cost of Logan street sewer, was ordered 
assessed. 

February 25th, 1884. $1,236,50, the cost of Frances street sewer, was 
ordered assessed, and at the same date $1,160.00, the cost of Grover street 
sewer was ordered assessed. 

March loth, 1884, $1,606.56, the cost of Sheridan and Walnut street sewers, 
was ordered assessed ; also $3,517.40, the cost of South street, Hamilton ave- 
nue and MacDougall street sewers. The four last sewers were constructed in 
1883, though the assessment was ordered in 1884. 

July 10, 1884, $1,236.00, the cost of Wall street sewer was ordered assessed. 



APPENDrX, 55 

May 5th, 1884, contract for the construction of a sewer in Franklin street, 
east from the summit, to connect with Elm street sewer. 

August 20th, 1884, $1,603.09, the cost of Franklin street sewer, east, was 
ordered assessed. 

June 2d, 1884, Mayor and City Clerk directed to contract with Jeremiah 
Sullivan for the construction of the Seymour street sewer. 

August i8th, 1884: $1,700.00, the cost of Seymour street sewer, was ordered 
assessed. 

June I2th, 1884, Mayor and Clerk ordered to enter into contract with Patrick 
Goff for the construction of the Washington, Barber, Coon and West Water 
street sewers. 

July 7th, 1884, contract ordered entered into with Jeremiah Sullivan for the 
construction of the Capitol street sewer. 

August 25th, 1884, $1,011.67, the cost of Capitol street sewer, was ordered 
assessed, and at the same date $1,603.09, the cost of Washington, Barber, 
Coon and West Water street sewers was ordered assessed. 

September ist, 1884, Mayor and Clerk ordered to contract with Luther G. 
Perkins for the construction of the Elizabeth street sewer. 

November 30, 1884, $558.75, the cost of Elizabeth street sewer was ordered 
assessed. 

September 8th, 1884, the construction of- a sewer in Genesee street from the 
Owasco outlet to cross walk near No. 85 Genesee street, ordered, and contract 
ordered made with L. G. Perkins for the construction of the same. 

January 5th, 1885, $3,470.70, the cost of Genesee street sewer, was ordered 
assessed. 

December 9th, 1885, $686.05, the cost of Cayuga street sewer, was ordered 
assessed. 

July 27th, 1886, $428.73, the cost of Elizabeth street sewer, was ordered 
assessed. 

August 7th. 1886, $530.91, the cost of Derby avenue sewer, was ordered 
assessed ; and $6,856.86, the cost of Jefferson, Clark and Genesee street 
sewer was ordered assessed ; also $696.55, the cost of sewer in Myrtle avenue. 

And 1SS6, the Aurelius avenue and Van Anden street sewer was reported 
completed at a cost of $5,061.91, which was ordered assessed on the 6th day 
of December, 1886. 




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HOBBIES, 

AND SOME WHICH WE HAVE RIDDEN IN rS86. 



Ax ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE CAYUGA CoUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 

February 8, 1887, by the President, 
WILIJAM H. SEWARD. 



HOBBIES," 



AND SOME WHICH WE HAVE RIDDEN IN i886. 



Webster defines the word " hobby " thus : " Any favorite 
object which a person pursues with zeal or delight," Some 
one has said, " Every man has his hobby," and I presume he 
intended to add, every woman has her hobby also. But, I take 
issue at once with this very sweeping statement, asserting em- 
phatically that this is a mistaken notion, in proof of which I 
point to the many people to be found in every community, who 
to all outward appearance at least, have no hobby, although it 
might be better in some cases if they had. Such tacitly accept 
the situation, whatever it happens to be at the time, seeming to 
have no special aim or ambition in life, unless it be to make 
themselves comfortable, and to be let alone while doing it. 
These are alwa3's good law-abiding citizens, usually quite ready 
to criticise or denounce the bad acts or mistakes of others, but 
they are in no sense progressive, and contribute but little to 
the general spirit of public enterprise or progress. True, some 
of our hobbies are visionary or impolitic, or both, and some are 
positively bad, and hurtful, alike against private and public 
interests ; yet, the bad aims of men are far less in number than 
the good ones, and much more likely to fail when once they 
become exposed to the light of public investigation and criti- 
cism. True, also comparatively few of the good or harmless 



110 " HOBBIES."' 

aims ever reach the fall measure of their projectors expecta- 
tion, nevertheless, they at least, serve to keep the commQnity 
from falling into apathy, and stagnation, and are continually 
stirring up the people, evoking healthful discussion, and expres- 
sion of opinion, and like the action of the winds upon still water, 
they agitate and purify it. 

DANGEROUS AND MISGUIDED HOBBIES. 

Some hobbyists however, do exist, that we could well dis- 
pense with, and whom the world would be far better oS with- 
out. These usually found their theory, or hobby, upon utter 
selfishness, and a flagrant disregard of the rights of their fellow 
citizens, seeking to build up their own fame or fortune, and to 
gratify their own ambitious aims through pulling down the bus- 
iness or character of others. Or else, their hobbies are founded 
upon Irreligion, Skepticism, or Revenge. Such may be found 
in politics, among the demagogues. In commercial affairs, 
among the character and business wreckers. And in Religion, 
among the Infidels or Atheists. 

Dryden gives us an apt illustration of some of these charac- 
ters, when he says : ' 

" 'Gainst form and order tbey their power employ, 
Nothing to build and all things to destroy, 
But far more numerous was the herd of such. 
Who think too little, and who talk too much." 

THE SOCIALISTIC HOBBY. 

The worst of all the bad hobbies, of the present day how- 
ever, is the anarchist, who while he seeks to elevate himself, 
aims to destroy the entire social and political fabric of the 
best government ever yet known to the civilized world. This 
man, left to himself, or to the- company of the comparative- 
ly few, who fully comprehend his destructive methods, is not 
so dangerous as he appears, for he is under suspicion, and 



"Lobbies," 111 

may at any time (if need be) be reach ed by the strong arm of 
justice and the law. But when he uses his hobby to persuade 
honest, well meaning workmen, that he is their champion, and 
that their real or fancied MM'ongs, (for there are both) can only 
be righted through his agency, then, just so far as he succeeds 
in establishing his base theories in their minds, leading them 
to look to his ways for relief, instead of appealing to the ballot, 
arbitration and other lawful means of redress, be becomes one 
of the most dangerous enemies of society, and of his fellow 
men. 

" In friendship false, implacable in hate, 
Resolved to ruin, or to rule the State." 

EPHEMERAL HOBBIES. 

Then there is another class of hobbyists familiar to us all, 
(mild cranks) who catch at absurd vagaries, and who are con- 
tinually chasing every shadowy " Will of the Wisp " that is 
seen flitting across the horizon. These are not usually bad fel- 
lows, nor do they mean harm to any, in pursuing their eccen- 
tric fancies. They adopt enthusiastically a dozen different 
theories, without ever stopping to examine into their merit or 
practicability, and as one scheme after another fails, they are 
astonished, and wonder why, but as they usually have an 
unbounded supply of hope, far in excess of their brains, they 
quickly drop their dead hobby, for a new one, no better than 

the first. 

" A man so various, that he seemed to be, 
Not one, but all mankind's epitome, 
Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, 
Was everything by starts, and nothing long." 

THE UNPROFITABLE HOBBYIST. 

Another harmless hobbyist occurs to me, who makes himself, 
or herself, worlds of trouble, without accomplishing anything 
in the way of general reformation, or in fact, anything else 



112 "HOBBIES." 

unless it be, to make those aronnd him as thoroughly uncom- 
fortable as himself. These hobbyists take various shapes both 
in business and in the household, but more especially in the latter, 
I can best describe one of these characters by quoting what the 
poet, Southey, says of his maiden aunt, with whom he lived 
when a boy : 

'' The discomforts which Miss Tyler's passion for cleanliness 
produced, to herself, as well as to her little household, was truly 
curious. To herself indeed, it was a perpetual torment ; to the 
servants a perpetual vexation, and so it would have been to me, 
if nature had not blessed me with an innate hilarity of spirit, 
which nothing but real affliction can ever overcome. That the 
better rooms might be kept clean, she took possession of the 
kitchen, sending the servants to one which was underground, 
and in this dark confined place, with a rough stone floor, and a 
skylight, we always took our meals and generally lived. 

"The best room was never opened, but for company, except 
now and then upon a fine day, to be aired and dusted, if dust 
could be detected there. In the other parlor I was allowed 
sometimes to read, and we sat there sometimes in the summer, 
when a fire was not needed, for fire produced ashes, and ashes 
occasioned dust, and dust visible, or invisible, was the plague 
of her life. I have seen her order the tea kettle emptied and 
refilled, because some one had passed across the hearth while 
it was on the fire preparing for her breakfast. She indulged 
in these humors till she had formed for herself, notions of un- 
cleanliness almost as irrational and inconvenient, as those of 
the Hindoos." " She had a cup once buried for six weeks, to 
purify it from the lips of one whom she accounted unclean ; all 
who were not her favorites were included in that class. 
Never was there a more ill regulated mind than that of this 
haughty spinster. She herself had a theory not uncommon, 
that a bad temper was connected with a good understanding, 
and a commanding mind, and so she was on very good terms 
with herself." 



" HOBBIES.'* 113 

But notwithstanding all of these exceptions, which I have 
mentioned, for I so regard them, I believe our hobbies are in 
the main, good things for us to have, and that out of some of 
them come much of' the public thrift and development which 
we enjoy. 

HOBBIES IN HISTORY. 

Many of the great events of history had their birth in the 
minds of enthusiasts, some of whom to be sure, carried their 
hobbies to such extremes as to overshoot their mark, entangle 
themselves and temporarily, at least, defeat what they sought 
to accomplish. But good seed when thas sown, often takes 
deep root and results in introducing important reforms, 
or improvements, to be taken up later on and worked out by 
others, who, perhaps would never have thought of the subject 
except for the enthusiastic or visionary mind of the original 
projector. 

Hobbies date back, at least, as far as the building of the 
tower of Babel. Cheops great pyramid, still towering over the 
sands of the Egyptian desert, has been the wonder of genera- 
tions for more than four thousand years, and was unquestion- 
ably one of the most stupendous of the ancient hobbies. 

The Crusades in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, marked 
another of the world's great hobbies, the zeal and magnitude 
of which, can hardly be comprehended after a lapse of six hun- 
dred years. And so we might go on with the enumeration of 
the hobbies of ancient history, if necessary, but it is not, and I 
think I may safely leave them with the broad assertion, that 
wherever history records civilization and progress, throughout 
the various nations of the world, there you will find more or 
less enthusiastic promoters of schemes for public or private 
advancement. Only those people, or nations, that retrograde 
and are on the road to decay, have no hobbies. 



114 " HOBBIES." 

In our own country, we have bad a great succession of hob- 
bies, arriving with the Puritans in the Mayflower, and ever 
since, occurring in forms almost innumerable down to the pre- 
sent day. Among them we could tind many illustrations, both 
striking and interesting, and should learn how some hobbies 
which seem in themselves, comparatively insignificant when 
first projected, often grow with such rapidity that they far out- 
strip public expectation, or even comprehension, and in some 
cases at least, mark the commencement of great social or polit- 
ical struggles, affecting even the welfare and life of the Nation 
itself. 

Did that wild mob in 1773, led by twenty-five determined 
men, disguised as Indians, who made salt tea in Boston harbor, 
when they pitched overboard three cargoes of that then obnox- 
ious article, because it represented British oppression, realize 
that besides defeating a hated tax law, they were at the same 
time laying one of the foundation stones of our great American 
Republic ? I think they did not. 

THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY. 

No more marked illustration of some of these truths can be 
found, than in the rise and growth of the anti-slavery, and abo- 
lition movement in our own country. What proportion of the 
citizens of the United States, except may be a few of their 
most far-seeing statesmen, realized or even dreamed at first, of 
the fearful magnitude of this great question, when its hobbyists, 
or early agitators as they were then styled, commenced their 
active work ? Among these was : William Lloyd Garrison, who 
in 1829 went to Baltimore and published the " Genius of Uni- 
versal Emancipation," in which he at once avowed he would 
" Cover wnth thick infamy" all those engaged in the slave trade, 
and in consequence was tried and convicted for libel, and cast 
into prison, where he lay for nearly two months. We next 
hear of him in Boston, in 1831, publishing the " Liberator," 



" HOBBIES." 115 

taking for his motto : " My country is the world, my country- 
men are all mankind." 

Wendell Phillips, who in 1835 by his outspoken sympathy 
with the abolition cause, brought upon himself the wrath of a 
pro-slavery mob, headed we are told, by some of " Boston's 
gentlemen of standing, and property," and narrowly escaped 
with his life from their outraged vengeance. Think of this, in 
the home of Charles Sumner, who but a few years latei*, had 
all New England at his back in support of these same principles, 

Elijah P. Lovejoy, (perhaps the iirst political martyr in this 
cause) who in 1837 edited at Alton, Illinois, an anti-slavery 
newspaper called the " Alton Observer," and while defending it 
for the third time, from the attacks of a pro-slavery mob, of so 
called " Good citizens" who thought " The institution" should 
not be interfered with by speech or pen, was killed at the door 
of his office ; and this in the very state from which only twenty- 
three years after, came Abraham Lincoln into the Presidency, 
to be instrumental in striking the shackles from 4,000,000 
slaves, he himself dying a martyr for the same principles, but 
mourned by his own state and nation as a patriot, not second 
even to Washington, 

And last, poor old John Brown, more enthusiastic and reck- 
less than the rest, who struck the first blow at Harper's Ferry, 
in 1859, and laid down his life there to answer for it. 

The Rev. S. W. Duffield, formerly of Auburn, has beautifully 
referred to this act, in the following lines : 

*' Wlien the hills of Harper's Ferry echoed back the sudden gun," 

" And the clock of human freedom in the darkness sounded one," 

" There were some who waked, and questioned when they heard the wild alarm," 

" There were some who rose with gladness, and began in haste to arm," 

" Thei'e were some, who prayed and waited for the coming of the sim," 

"As the clock of human freedom in the darkness, sounded one." 

These were but a few of the advance guard preceding other 
statesmen, and citizens not so radical or rash as they, but 
equally earnest, and effective in arousing and wielding jjublic 



116 "hobbies." 

opinion in this great cause, which in a little more than a quarter 
of a century had developed and spread through the entire land, 
trom the great lakes to the gulf, and from ocean to ocean, array- 
ing section against section, state against state, father against 
son, and brother against brother, until the whole country had 
espoused either one side or the other. Union or disunion was 
the sharply defined issue, but slavery or no slavery was the 
great underlying question of all. The party leaders claimed 
on one side that slavery was a divine right, secured to them by 
the constitution, and sanctioned by holy writ, while those on 
the other side pronounced it one of the darkest blots upon the 
National escutcheon of a great and so called free republic, and 
the scheme of the devil himself. Think then how this hobby 
grew, in less than thirty years into one of the great fixed prin- 
ciples of the north, calling to its support more than 2,600,000 
loyal soldiers to fi.ght its battles, when the government, which 
had adopted it was in peril. Think, also, how when victory 
was at last attained by the surrender of Lee's shattered and 
broken army at Appomattox, on the 9th of April, 1865, and 
the north was in the full tide of its rejoicing over the glad 
tidings, that on\y five days later a few revengeful and mis- 
guided theorists again plunged the land into deep gloom and 
alarm by the assassination of our good President and the 
attempted assassination of one of your own citizens. But let 
us draw the curtain over this last black act of infamy and folly, 
and remember that through the aid of an all-wise Providence, 
success rested on the side of liberty and resulted in a re united 
country. 

THE VALUE OF HOBBIES. 

Keturning to my former argument, not to have some pro- 
nounced views, aims and ambitions, in the state, in the town, 
and in the household, is to my mind more to be regretted than 
it would be, to become overstocked with the article. We do 



" HOBBIES." 117 

not usually think any less of our acquaintance because of his 
eccentricities, but if he means well, we rather admire him for 
his individuality. Therefore, I repeat, a well selected assort- 
ment of hobbies is a desirable acquisition for every progressive 
community. 

To our 3'oung men I say most emphatically, select and ride 
your hobby if you lilce, only be sure and get a good one, and 
if possible one that will benefit your neighbor as well as your- 
self. 

The range of personal hobbies is large, and you need not be 
at all confined in your choice. You may wish to be the best 
student, lawyer, doctor, minister, farmer, merchant, mechanic, 
or even the best well-digger, or your ambition may seek sci- 
ence, discovery, invention, or construction, or you may turn 
toward politics, literature, or charity, but whatever you do 
select, go into it with a will, exert your best energies, for if 
worth doing at all, it is worth doing well. 

This determination will enable you to ride over obstacles 
which frequently arise, and often discourage the unambitious 
or weak-willed, tempting them to throw aside that which they 
seek, and turn to something else less congenial or advantageous. 

Should your hobby be some public benefit or improvement, 
so much the more reason that it should be followed with per- 
sistence, for more people than yourself are to participate in 
your success. 

Do not take up the spyglass of doubt, to see if any lions are 
standing in the path, for if you do, ten chances to one, you 
will discover a whole menagerie, ready to devour your pet 
aim. 

Who has not seen people start out in life with some laudable 
aim, and through their own fears, or through the ridicule, or 
skepticism of real or would-be friends, be dissuaded from their 
purpose long before they had really given it sufficient trial to 
test its virtue. Be not of these, my young friend, but what- 



118 " HOBBIES.*' 

ever you undertake make that your hobby, ride it with vigor, 
and if it be founded upon good common sense, you will be 
likely to come out ahead of a whole regiment of doubters. 

LOCAL HOBBIES IN POLITICS. 

What public hobbies have we been riding here at home, in 
the year that has just past? Well, too many, I imagine, for 
me to attempt to mention, or even to remember the half of them 
to night. And yet, we may by way of illustration, recall a 
few of those which have occupied the attention of Auburnians 
in 1886. 

First then, let us take the political hobby, perhaps the most 
persistently ridden, of any. It is usually brought out upon 
our streets, at least twice each year, in the Spring and Fall. It 
is a very active animal, and is not at all times a i-eliable one 
for the rider to mount. Those who ride, or attempt to ride it, 
are numerous, embracing many very respectable citizens, and 
and some who are not so respectable. 

I regret also to say, that it is fractious, frequently becoming so 
unmanageable that it will throw its rider, and if it does not 
kill him outright, often maims him so badly, that his head is 
sore for a long time afterwards. Others, this capricious animal 
carries safely to destination; these you may see upon any day 
following an election ; they may be known by their beaming 
faces, and self satisfied air; they are ready to shake hands, 
with all they meet, and expect to receive congratulations upon 
their successful ride into olfice. They confidently tell you that 
they were sure of success from the start, and perhaps quietly 
impart a point or two as how best to ride the animal. 

If however, you chance to meet soon after, one of the unfor- 
tunate riders, who has been thrown off, he is generallj^ pretty 
mad, and should he regard you as a fellow-sympathiser in his 
misfortune, he tells you that the whole thing was accomplished 
by trickery, on the part of the other side, and had he ever 



" HOBBIES." 119 

suspected such treachery he would have been better prepared, 
or else he would not have entered the race at all. On the 
whole, he is inclined to think that he is not fully appreciated 
by his fellow citizens, and often asserts that you will never 
again catch him getting into such a scrape or making a martyr 
of himself for his party. From this state of mind however, he 
frequently rapidly recovers, and may often be found the next 
year trying the same experiment over again. Our political 
hobby last spring, brought in six Republican and four Demo- 
cratic aldermen, who with the help of two members of the board 
of trustees of the Historical Society, Mayor Wheeler and City 
Attorney John W. O'Brien, have been struggling ever since 
with the intricate problem of how best to govern the city of 
Auburn. Most of these gentlemen have some marked individ- 
uality of their own, and each has one or more hobbies. When, 
therefore they ride together the road is usually found to be 
smooth, but when as occasionally occurs, several try to ride in 
different directions then there is trouble, and some one gets 
upset. In this connection we may also recall how only a few 
weeks since many of Auburn's good Republican citizens (full 
of political enthusiasm) went to the state capitol and there 
mounted one of the two strong well equipped hobbies in the 
senatorial contest, sure that with him they would win the 
prize, and again, how, when they got well under way they 
found the road too rough for their stronger hobby, dismounted 
quickly and took another, which up to that time seemed to be 
far behind, and with him reached the goal, happy that they 
had been able to come in with the winner, even if they did 
have to change the hobby on the route. 

IN SOCIETY. 

Society people in our city have ridden their brilliantly 
caparisoned steed of gayety, and amusement, most vigorously 
in 1886, in various ways, but far too numerous for special men- 



120 ■' HOBBIES." 

tion this evening. Each however enlisting its full share of 
support and affording its pleasure to its many participants. 

Fashion, societj^'s adopted sister, has also had her annual 
hobby (Hit for an airing, donning new things during the season, 
not only to amuse the people, (vex their pockets') and gratify 
their pride, or to minister to their real wants, but also for 
another purpose not always remembered, and that is to make 
new busine>^s iov the merchant and others who can only sell 
their wares by offering something new to displace what the}-- 
sold the year before. Tluis this hobby, in our community, like 
others, panders to our taste, fancy, or requirements, and at the 
same time makes trade and protit for the vender, by her fre- 
quent, novel and arbitrary changes. I think we may set this 
down as the most tickle of all our hobbies. 

THE ^EW HIGH SCHOOL. 

Anotiier of our active local hobbies in 1886 has been the 
new High School building. This one has been chiefly in charge 
and under the guidance of our excellent Board of Education, 
who have been so successful in its management, that tlieir aims 
are likely to be fully realized, notwithstamling the active ef- 
forts of some of their opponents to make the hobby throw them 
off into the mire of conflicting public opinion, through which 
they were travelling. Some of us to be sure, did not like the 
unpalatiible pill of $40,000 to be added to our city debt, which 
accompanied this very meritorious object, even after it had been 
sugar-coated with the name of '* certilicates," but as this seemed 
to be the only way (under the circumstances) by which the 
building could be obtained, we put our objections down in the 
bottom of our })ockets, got up behind the Board of Education 
and rode the hobby with them. This hobby however, encount- 
ered another and quite unexpected check after it had got well 
under way, in the shape of a second hobby ridden by some 
very e;ood citizens which threatened to block the road for a 



"hobbies." 121 

time at least. This one was called bad sewerage and foul sur- 
roundings, but after some hard words from the riders of each 
and some sensible suggestions from the Board of Health, and 
their expert inspector, which the Board of Education (be it to 
their credit) readily adopted, the riders of the second hobby, 
gracefully dismounted and allowed the first to go on its way 
rejoicing that it had so easily escaped what for a little while 
appeared to be an impending earthquake, which might swallow 
up its cellar, foundation and all. The result of all this is now 
a well progressed building, which when once completed will be 
an ornament to our city, and a much needed relief to this de- 
partment of our excellent school system. 

THE PUBLIC BUILDING. 

Our talented Congressman, Sereno E. Payne, has ridden his 
favorite hobby, a new United States building (for court and 
post office purposes) with the substantial appropriation of $150,- 
000 direct from the floor of the 48th congress, right up to the 
corner of Genesee and Green Streets, and after some balking 
and kicking, the animal appears now to be securely tied up to 
that locality. Mr. Payne's success in securing this substantial 
public improvement for Auburn, is, I am sure highly and 
gratefully appreciated, not only by the members of the Cayuga 
County Historical Society, but also by his fellow citizens gen- 
erally. 

THE OPERA HOUSE HOBBY. 

Three new opera house hobbies, have been on the course 
during 1886, but each seems to have stumbled and fallen before 
it reached the goal. The first w;is to have been located on the 
vacant lot in the rear of the Bank of Auburn, the second on 
the site of the Genesee Rink, and the third on the Nelson lot 
next west of the old Baptist church building. This last one I 
understand, the projector does not wholly give up yet, and 



122 ■' HOBBIES." 

although his animal appears a little lame, he still hopes to win 
the race. He says that all that is needed to make his hobby 
go through is plenty of pluck and $40,000. That he has all 
the pluck required, and that if he can induce other citizens to 
furnish the money. Auburn shall soon have a first-class hall of 
amusement. This by the way is a thing much needed in our 
city, but which most of us seem perfectly willing some other 
man should supply. Auburn has not in the past been a very 
healthful locality for this kind of hobby, several having died in 
early infancy, but it is sincerely to be hoped that this one or 
some other may have vitality enough to survive until it reaches 
maturity. 

TEMPERANCE. 

The temperance hobby lias also been led out during the 
year, well groomed and mounted by many earnest citizens, both 
men and women. It has been ridden in several different direc- 
tions in our cit3', and if it has not closed many saloons,or reformed 
many habitual drunkards, it has at least led to wide discussion 
of the subject and brought its merits more clearly before the 
people. To what extent its influence has been felt I do not 
know, but I presume it has set many young, and some older 
folks, to thinking of it. 

THE REVIVAL HOBBY. 

The hobby of religious revival has been active in our com- 
munity in 1886, and has been especially guided by almost the 
entire body of Protestant clergy of this city, manfully assisted 
by many of Auburn's best citizens, and immensely progressed 
by the great meetings of D. L. Moody and Major Whittle. 
Thousands daily flocked to hear these Evangelists for three 
consecutive weeks, very many of whom it is safe to say, seldom 
if ever enter our churches. So great was the interest manifested 
in this movement, that it seems as though some lasting good 
must have been accomplished by it. Surely those who had 



" HOBBIES." 123 

charge of this hobby may well feel satisfied with the interest 
which it enlisted, and its apparent good results. 

Auburn's charities. 

Our charitable institutions, and other philanthropic hobbies, 
are quite numerous for a city of our size, and in the main have 
been well sustained during 1886, but their call for help is con- 
tinuous ; they can not run alone, and some one or more of them 
should hold a claim upon each citizen who is a well-wisher for 
the public good. Objects of this character (unless more 
largely endowed than is the case with us) exist and thrive just 
in proportion to the help they receive. They do not make or 
accumulate money, but are continually spending it to assist the 
unfortunate, the ignorant, or those seeking instruction. Each 
particular one needs the enthusiastic aid of individual effort. 
They should be somebody's hobby, for unless so fostered, and 
helped, their ability to do their appointed work is curtailed, or 
dies out. Good citizens, whoever you may be, whether you 
have little or much, remember these institutions, and do what 
you can for them. 

THE SALVATIONISTS' HOBBY, 

The Salvation Army have ridden no new hobby in 1886, 
but have brought out the old animal with renewed vigor, and 
have paraded it through the streets in all weather; through 
mud, rain and sunshine, regardless of ridicule, insult or obstruc- 
tion. By their steadfast adherence to their purpose they have 
at least commanded our respect if they have not won our sym- 
pathy for their unusual methods of calling sinners into heaven 
with drum and cymbals. The well balanced mind that looks 
dispassionately into this eccentric movement, and at the same 
time overlooks its ludicrous ways, will not often fail to reach the 
conclusion that the aims of the Salvation Army are good, and 
that the enthusiastic people who take part in it are by no 



124 " HOBBIES." 

means doing harm in the community, notwithstanding they do 
make a great deal of noise. Give them your protection, gen- 
tlemen of the city government, and rest assured that the major- 
ity of good citizens will sustain you in doing it. 

THE CAYUGA COUNTy HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

And last, but not least, of Auburn's hobbies, is the Cayuga 
County Historical society. Our hobby is to ride after, and 
secure ancient and modern local history, to rake among the 
dead leaves of the past, for facts, figures and dates interesting 
and valuable, and when found, to embalm them in our records 
as the ancient Egyptians did their mummies, so that they (I 
mean the facts, figures and dates, not the mummies) shall be 
preserved for the enlightenment of those who are to follow in 
the busy paths of life we are now treading. Oar historical 
hobby has journeyed far and near in the year 1886. It has been 
guided by Prof. W. J. Beecher, with a sympathetic and appre- 
ciative pen through the life history of our late and beloved 
President, Eev. Charles Hawley, bringing to our view, new 
illustrations of his beautiful character and energetic career, full 
of rare examples for us and our children. It has traveled 
under the dexterous hand of D. W. Adams in the great Sulli- 
van expedition, which in 1779 invaded what is now known as 
Cayuga county, and laid waste the beautiful corn-fields and 
Indian villages which then occupied our soil. It has been 
ridden through the little village of Auburn in 1814, by George 
Casey, one of our now oldest residents, who has himself lived 
to see the town grow from a few short streets with detached 
houses and stores and mills, into one of the most substantial 
and beautiful small cities in the state. 

It has been down under ground with Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., 
into the sewers, " ancient and modern," travelling under his prac- 
tical management, back from modern Auburn in 1886, to ancient 
Rome, and even farther. 



" HOBBIES." 125 

And then, as if disdaining the lapse of more than two 
thousand years, we iind our hobby in the able hands of our 
Vice-President, B. B. Snow, who has so faithfully recorded the 
incidents and accidents of 1886 with a list of haps and mis- 
haps so numerous that we are startled when we look back 
over the events even of a single year and see the multitude of 
daily occurrences, (in which we ourselves have participated) 
grouped together before our gaze. 

APPLICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. 

And now a word in conclusion, as to the moral application 
of some of these remarks to our own community. Progress and 
development, while always somewhat dependent upon circum- 
stance and surrounding, are nevertheless greatly aided and 
increased by enthusiastic individual effort; and if we want our 
city to thrive and prosper, we must at least do one of two 
things, either project and push forward enterprises ourselves, 
or else encourage those among us who are willing to do so, and 
assume the burden. 

Conservatism is a wise element of character, and exercised 
with judgment ma}' be said to be the balance wheel of the great 
engine of progress, checking or tempering down rash acts and 
extravagant measures. But like the brakes on a railroad train, 
it needs to be used with intelligence and not applied except at 
the proper times, to prevent accidents or to stop the cars at 
regular stations. 

Doubt and hesitation are not always wise conservatism, and 
have frequently killed a meritorious project or worked as much 
harm, as rash but well meaning enterprise has ever done. 

But, I find I have already occupied more time than T intended 
to do, and so will hitch my hobby here, with the parting sug- 
gestion : 

If you have a good hobby, ride it ; if not, look over the vast 
field which the world afEords, and see if there is not one already 
saddled and waiting for you. 



CAYUGA COUNTY 



Historical Society 



COLLECTIONS 



Number Six 



COLLECTIONS 



OF 



CAYUGA COUNTY 



Historical Society 



AUBURN, N. Y. 



Number Six 



1888 






TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY COPIES. 
Number 



Gin 
Oje Society 



•IAS. W. BTJitROUftHS, 
Book and (.'omrneroial PilnK^i , 

Al HIRN, N. Y. 



CONTENTS. 



Certificate of Inxorpokation, 5 

By-Laws 7 

Officers and Members ■'^ 

Extract from the Minutes of the Anntal .Meeting, iSSS, 15 

Culture and Manufacture of Wool in Cayuoa County 

from its first introduction to the present time, . . U) 
By William Hayden. 

Memoir of David Thomas, 39 

BY J. J. Thomas. 

Biography of William Bostwick 57 

BY Hknry H. Bostwick. 

Recollections of my Early Life in Auburn fj5 

BY Mrs. Deborah bronson. 

Reminiscences of mv Early Life in Auburn 103 

By Mrs. s. Benton Hunt. 

Cayuga Jf)iNT Stock Company of TS49, ^-5 

By W. a. Ogdkx. 

Biography of Gknerai. Flkmini; ^55 

By C. M. Baker. 

The Burning of the Sr. James wnii some account of 

the early taverns of Auburn and vicinity i73 

By B. B. snow. 



CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. 



We, the undersigned, citizens of the United States, residing within 
the County of Cayuga and State of New York, and being also citizens 
of the State of New York, of the age of twenty-one years and up- 
wards, do hereby associate ourselves and form a corporation, pursu- 
ant to the provisions of the Statutes of the State of New York, known 
as chapter 267 of the laws of 1S75, as amended by chapter 53 of the 
laws of 1876. 

The name by which such corporation shall be known in law, is 
"The Cayuga County Historical Society." 

Said corporation is formed for social, literary and historical pur- 
poses, and the particular business and objects thereof, shall be the 
discussion of general and local history, and the discovery, collection 
and preservation of the historical records of Cayuga County, afore- 
said, comprising books, newspapers, pamphlets, maps and genealogies ; 
and also of paintings, relics and any articles or materials which may 
or shall illustrate the growth or progress of society, religion, educa- 
tion, literature, art, science, agriculture, manufactures, commerce, 
and the trades and professions within the United States, and especial- 
ly within the County of Cayuga and State of New York. 

The principal office and place of business of said Society, shall be 
in the city of Auburn, Cayuga County, N. Y. 

The said corporation shall be managed by seven trustees. The 
names of said trustees for the first year of the existence of said cor- 
poration are, Benjamin B. Snow, Blanchard Fosgate, James D. But- 
ton, Lewis E. Carpenter, David M. Dunning, John H. Osborne, and 
J. Lewis Grant, all of Auburn, N. Y. 

It is hereby intended to incorporate an association heretofore exist- 
ing under the name of "The Cayuga County Historical Society," but 
heretofore unincorporated. 

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the 
23d day of January, 1S77. 

CHARLES HAWLEY, [1.. s.] BLANCHARD FOSGATE, [i.. s.] 
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, [i.. s.] JOHN S. CLARK, [l. s.] 
JAMES D. BUTTON, [l. s.] A. W. LAWTON, [l. s.] 

B. B. SNOW, [l. s.] W. D. BALDWIN, [l. s.] 

F. L. GRISWOLD, [1.. s.] D. M. OSBORNE, [l. s.] 

J. H. OSBORNE, \L. s.] OTIS M. GODDARD, [1,. s.] 



6 CERTIFICATE OF INOORPORATION. 

W. A. BAKER. [I,, s.) BYRON C. SMITH, [l. s.] 

D. M. DUNNING, [i,. s. | GEO. R. PECK, [i,. s.] 

L. E. CARPENTER, [i.. ^.] JOHN UNDERWOOD, [i.. s.] 

DENNIS R. ALWARD. [i.. >.] CHAS. A. SMITH, [l. s.] 

J. W. DUNNING, [I,, s. I E. S. NEWTON, [l. s.] 

H. J. KNAPP, [L. s.] J. T. M. DAVIE, [l. s.] 

A. G. BEARDSLEY. Jr.. [i.. s.] JAS. SEYMOUR, Jr., [l. s.] 

S. L. BRADLEY, [i.. s.] D. H. ARMSTRONG, [l. s.] 

C. J. REED. [I.. .S.J GORTON W. ALLEN, [i. s. | 

SAMUEL W. DUFFIELD, [i . s. | W. H. CARPENTER, [i.. s. | 

NELSON B. ELDRED, [i.. s.J F. P. TABER. [i.. s.] 

SiAiK OF Nkw York. / 
Cayuga County. \ " ' 
On this first day of February, 1S77. personally appeared before me, 
a Notary Public, in and for said county: Charles Hawley, William H. 
Seward, James D. Button, Blanchard Fosgate, Benjamin B. Snow, 
John S. Clark, Franklin L. Griswold, John H. Osborne, William A. 
Baker, David M. Dunning, Lewis E. Carpenter, Dennis R. Alward, 
Joseph W. Dunning, Horace J. Knapp, Alonzo G. Beardsly, Jr., Silas 
L. Bradley, Charles J. Reed, Nelson B. Eldred, David M. Osborne, 
Otis M. Goddard, Byron C. Smith, Charles A. Smith, John Under- 
wood, George R. Peck, John T. M. Davie, James Seymour, Jr., Da- 
vid H. Armstrong, Frank P. Taber, Ed. S. Newton and A. W. Law- 
ton, to me personally known to be thirtj' of the persons described in. 
and who executed the foregoing instrument, and severally acknowl- 
edged that they executed the same. CHARLES. M. BAKER, 

Notary Public, Cayuga County. 



C.AYiGA County, ss. 

On the 2d day of February, 1877, personally appeared before me, 
Samuel W. Duflfield, Gorton W. Allen and William H. Carpenter, to 
me known to be three of the persons described in, and who executed 
the foregoing instrument, and severally acknowledged the execution 
thereof. CHARLES M. BAKER, 

Notary Public. 

The undersigned, one of the Justices of the Supreme Court for the 
Seventh Judicial District of the State of New York, hereby consents 
to and approves of the filing of the foregoing certificate. 
Dated Auburn, N. Y., February 2, 1877. 

CHARLES C. DWIGHT; 
Jus. Sup. Ct., 7th Jud. Dist. S. N. Y. 



BY-LAWS. 

X. The name of the Society shall be. "The Cayuga County Histon- 

'^i%te obiect of the Society shall be discover, procure and preserve 
whatlver rites to the natuil, civil, military, industrial, hterar>^and 
TccSsiastical historv, and the history of science and art, of the State 
!, New York in general, and the County of Cayuga m P-t-ular. 

The society shall consist of resident, honorary, and correspond- 
i.: Jember? Resident members shall be nominated by a member 
^^^en rneeting and the nominations be referred to the membership 
"rrttrwh!;h\hall report thereon at the next regular meeing. 
A bXt^haTl then be taken in which five negative votes shall ax- 
il ResMent members only shall be entitled to vote. Honorary and 
dude. Resme nominateed only by the Board of 

^::^t:!^:^^e..^ in the same manner as resident mem- 

^T'The annual dues shall be at the rate of ten dollars each year, 

«hle on the i^rst day of February in each year in advance. The 
payab e on t^e hn,t oay ^^^^^^ .^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ 

sum of i.fty ^f^^TefreLal to pay annual dues within the three 
??aftertt sal Lome due, shall work a forfeiture of mem- 
months aftei he same be ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ delinquent 

rftL^i^nlTmrbrutesssaid dues shall be paid or remitted 
^^?;:::^^iSso.ety shall be a President, Vice-Pi^sident, 

^Z:i^:^sol. and shall hold their offices for one year, and 
nntil others are chosen to fill th.n p^e. ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ 

6. The annual meetmg of the Souet> snau u 
Tnesdav in Februarv in each and every year hereafter, at uhich a 
Tuesday m rem i,,,ii f^Vrnlace In such election of offi- 

o-f^npral election ot officers shall take place, m ='^>- 
^ hill tike nlace In such election of officers a majority of the 
cers shall take piacc. i.u -^^ u ; ,„ . ;f ,ir. oVin re is 

ballots given for any .>fficer shall constitute a choice . if no choice 



8 1?Y-LAWS. 

made on the first ballot, another ballot shall take place, in which a 
plurality shall determine the choice. 

7. If a vacancy shall occur in any office the same may be filled by 
the Board of Trustees. 

S. The Society shall meet statedly for the transaction of business 
on the second Tuesday of each month, at such hour of the day as 
may be decided upon, unless otherwise specially ordered. The Pres- 
ident, or in his absence, the Vice-President, may call special meet- 
ings for special purposes, the nature thereof being fully set forth in 
the call. 

9. At the stated meetings oi the Society, the following shall be the 
order of business: 

1. Reading the proceedings of the last meeting. 

2. Reports and communications from officers. 

3. Reports of the Board of Trustees, and of standing committees. 

4. Reports of special committees. 

5. Election of members previously proposed, 
f). Nomination of new members. 

7. Reading of papers, delivery of addresses and di.scussion there- 
on. 
S. Miscellaneous business. 

10. Seven members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of 
business. 

11. The President, or in his absence the Vice-President, or in their 
absence a Chairman pro tetnpore shall perform all the duties pertain- 
ing to that office. 

12. The Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of all the cor- 
re.spondence and perform all the duties pertaining to the same. 

13. The Recording Secretary shall have charge of the seal, charter, 
by-laws and books of record and perform all the duties pertaining 
to his office. 

14. The Treasurer shall collect and keep the funds and securities 
of the Societ}% and they shall be deposited in a safe bank to the cred- 
it of the Society and only drawn therefrom on his check, for the pur- 
poses of the Society, and by the approval of the Executive Commit- 
tee. He shall keep a true account and report the same to the Society 
and to the Finance Committee whenever either of them shall require. 

15. The Librarian shall have charge of the Library and be general 
custodian of all the books, maps, pamphlets, pictures and all other 
property contributed to the Society. He may receive and arrange 
articles loaned to the Society and sign a receipt for the same to b^ 
returned when called for by the owners thereof. 



BY-LAWS. ^ 

1 6. Libraiy regulations : 

1. No book or other article shall at anjr time be lent to any per- 

son to be removed from the library, except by express con- 
sent of the Board of Trustees. 

2. No paper or manuscript read before the Society and deposited 

therewith, shall be published except by the consent of the 
Trustees and the author. 

3. All members may have access to the rooms at any reasonable 

times, and may consult and examine any book or manuscript 
except such as may be designated by the Trustees. But no 
person not a member shall have such privilege except a 
doner, or one introduced by a member, or by special authoi'- 
ity of the Executive Committee. 

4. Any injury done to books or other articles shall be reported by 

the Librarian to the Executive Committee, and the damage 
shall be required for such injury. 

17. The Board of Trustees shall have charge and control of the 
business and property of the Society. 

The Vice-President shall be ex-officio Chairman, and the Recording- 
Secretary shall be the Secretary of the Board. They shall have 
charge and general supervision and management of the rooms and 
all the property and funds of the society. They shall meet monthly 
at the rooms, the evening before the regular meeting, and four mem- 
bers shall be a quorum to do business. 

The Chairman shall appoint from their number: 

ist. An Executive Committee. 

2d, A Finance Committee. 

3d, A Membership Committee, consisting of three members each. 

4th, A Committee on Rooms. 

18. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to solicit, dona- 
tions and contributions, to propose and digest business for the Socie- 
ty; to authorize disbursements and expenditures of unappropriated 
money in the Treasury for the payment of current expenses of the 
Society, and for Library, purchase of books, printing and binding, 
but no expenditure or liability shall be made at any time, exceeding 
the amount of cash in the Treasury, and the available assets of the 
Society. 

The committee shall have a general superintendence of the inter- 
ests of the Society under the control and direction of the Board of 
Trustees, and report to them as often as may be required. 

19. The Finance Committee shall examine the books and accounts 
of the Treasurer, and audit all bills and accounts against the Society, 



10 liY-LAWS. 

and be able to report at all times the eondition of the Society as to 
funds, etc. 

20. The Committee on Membership shall report on all nominations 
for membership before an election shall be had. 

2i. The Committee on Rooms shall have the immediate care of the 
rooms and furnitm-e of the Society and shall determine applications 
for the temporary use thereof for other than Society purposes. 

22. The President shall appoint a committee of five members of 
the Society, to which shall be referred all papers and addresses pre- 
sented to the Society, and said Committee shall examine the same, 
and give notice of the time of the reading of any paper before the 
Society. It shall also be their duty to solicit and provide some paper 
on a subject in the second by-law designated, to be read at each 
meeting; and shall give public notice of the same. 

23. Amendments or alterations of the By-Laws may be made by a 
majority vote at anj' regular meeting, provided such amendm.ent or 
alteration shall have been prepared and entered upon the minutes at 
a meeting held at least four weeks previous, with the name of the 
member proposing the same. 



OFFICERS. 



President, 
WILLIAM H. vSEWARD. 

Vice- President, 
BENJAMIN B. SNOW. 

L 'orresponding Secretary, 
FRANK W. RICHARDSON. 

Recording Secretary, 
DAVID M^. DUNNING. 

Treasurer, 
NELSON B. ELDRED. 

Librarian, 
JOHN H. OSBORNE. 

Historical Secretary, 
D. WARREN ADAMS. 



TRUSTEES. 



John H. Osborne. Nelson B. Ei.dred. 

Lewis E. Lyon. Frederick I. Allen. 

D. Warren Adams. Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr. 

John N. Knapp. Charles M. Baker. 

David M. Dunning. Frank W. Richardson. 

James Seymour, Jr. John W\ O'Brien. 
Willis J. Beechrr, D. D. 



COMMITTEES. 

On Papers.— Lewis E. Lyon, A. W. Lawton, Frank W. Richard- 
son, Charles M. Baker, Thomas M. Osborne. 

Executive.— C. Wheeler, Jr., John H. Osborne, WiUis J. Beecher. 

Finance.— John N. Knapp, D. M. Dunning, John W. O'Brien. 

Membership. -James Seymour. Jr.. Nelson B. Eldred, Wm. H. 
Meaker. 

Room.— H. D. WoodruiT, D. W. Adams, A. W. Lawton, 



LIST OF MEMBERS. 



HONORARY. 

Hon. Andrew 1). Wimr., Hknkv I\ison,* lisq., 

Ithaca, N. Y. i>?e\v York City. 

Hon. Frk.uf.rick W. Skwakd, Josei'm Tiiom.\.s. LL. D., 

Washington. Philadelphia. Pa. 

Hon. Hknkn Farnham, Hon. Sami ki. R. Weli.s, 

New Haven, Ct. Waterloo. N. Y. 

Hon. Roscof, Conklinc,,* Skvki.i.on A. Bkown, Esq., 

Utica, N. Y. Washington. 

Wii.i.iAM P. LKrcHWORTH, Ii^sq,. Wm. H. Lkwis, Esq., 

Buffalo. Katonah, N. Y. 

Hon. Iamks G. A. Creiohton, Ottawa, Canada. 



CORRESPONDING. 

Dan' I. Goodwin, Chicago, Ills. 

RESIDENT. 



Rev. Chari.es Hawley.* 
Gen. William H. Seward. 
Rev. Sami EI. W. Dufkield. 
Benjamin B. Snow. 
J. Lewis Grant.* 
Dennis R. Alw.\rd. 
David M. Dunning. 
Dr. James D. Button.* 
John H. Osborne. 
Dr. Blanch ard Fosoate.* 
Lewis E. Carpenter. 



Dr. David H. Armstrong. 
James Sevmoir, Jk. 
William G. Wlse.* 
Dr. Sylvester Wii.lard.* 
Silas L. Bradley.* 
Frank P. Taker. 
Gen. John N. Knapp. 
Nelson B. Ei.dred. 
Lewis E. Lyon. 
Horace V. Howland. 
Clinton D. MacDougai.l. 



* Deceased. 

+ Removed from city. 



LIST OF MEMBERS. 



13 



Frederick I. Allen. 

Edward H. Townsend. 

James R. Cox. 

George W. Elliott. 

WiLLARD E. Case. 

Charles H. Carpe.nter. 

Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr. 

Rev. Charles C. Hemenway. 

Rey. Prof. Willis J. Beecher. 

William F. Wait. 

Darius W. Ad.\ms. 

Mrs. Hannah L. Hovvland. 

Henry D. Woodruff. 

William H. Carpenter.* 

Albert W. Lawton. 

RuFUS Sargent.* 

William H. Meaker. 

Henry A. Morgan. 

N. Ljvnsing Zabriskie. 

David M. Osborne.* 

Otis M. Goddard.-j- 

Franklin L. Griswold.* 

Byron C. Smith. 

William A. Baker.! 

Charles A. Smith. 

W. Delevan Baldwin.! 

Gorton W. Allen. 

Chas. M. Baker. 

Dr. Amanda Sanford Hickey. 

Mrs. T. M. Pomeroy. 

Mrs. Wm. H. Seward. 

Henry D. Titus. 

James Lyon. 

Richard H. Bloom. 

Mrs. B. B. Snow. 

Henry T. Keeler. 

Mrs. Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr. 



John W. O'Brien. 
Frank W. Richardson. 
Mrs. D. M. Osborne. 
Mrs. James G. Knapp. 
Warren A. Worden. 
Thomas M. Osborne. 
George B. Longstreet. 
Miss M. A. West. 
Miss J. C. Ferris. 
Miss Anna Conover. 
Eber O. Wheeler. 
Dr. Carlos F. MacDonald. 
Dr. Theodore Dimon. 
Mrs. Elizabeth C. Bolter. 

H. L.A.URENS StORKE. 

John T. Hemenway. 

Amasa J. Parker. 

Rev. J. J. Brayton. 

Rev. Prof. James S. Riggs. 

Benjamin M. Wilcox. 

Dr. M. S. Cheesman. 

Miss Fidelia Olmste.\d. 

F. E. Storke. 

Dr. F. a. Lee. 

Miss C. Dennls. 

Dr. J. M. Jenkins. 

Miss M. W. Bemis. 

Rev. E. p. Sprague. 

E. Gould Woodruff. 

F. T. Peet. 
Emmett Rhodes. 
C. A. Smith. 

Rev. W. H. Hubbard. 
Wm. a. White. 
Dr. Moses M. Frye. 
E. Clarence Aiken. 



♦Deceased. 

+ Removed from city. 



EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES 

OF THE 

ANNUAL MEETING 
1888. 



The Annual Meeting of the Society was held at the 
Society Rooms, Tuesday, February 14th, 1888, at 4 
o'clock p. M. The trustees and officers for the ensuing- 
year were duly elected, and the reports of officers and 
committees were presented and read. 

The president, Gen'l Seward, extended an invita- 
tion, on behalf of himself and Mrs. Seward, to hold 
the further exercises of the meeting at their residence 
in the evening. The invitation was accepted, and the 
Society adjourned till 8 o'clock, p. m. 

About one hundred members of thf^ Society and 
their friends gathered at the home of the president at 
8 o'clock in the evening, foi' the literary exercises of 
the annual meeting. 

Hon. Warren A. AVorden read a memorial address 
on the life of the late Dr. Blanchard Posgate, one of 
the charter members of the Society. Mr. B. B. Snow, 
vice president, read a paper detailing the principal 
local events of the preceding year. Prof. Willis J. 
Beecher, D. D., read an original poem entitled " The 



16 EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES. 

Numerator,'' after which President Seward brieflj' 
addi'essed the Society, I'eviewing tlie work whicli had 
been done during the year, and congratulating the 
members upon the continued prosperity of the Soci- 
ety. In closing he extended to those present, in be- 
half of himself and Mrs. Seward, the unrestrained 
freedom of their home. An hour of social intercourse 
followed, during which the innumerable objects of 
interest of the ''Seward home"' were open to the in- 
spection of all present. A more enjoyable inaugura- 
tion of the new year could scarcely be conceived, nor 
one better calculated to promote the interests of the 
Society. 



CULTURE AND MANUFACTURE OF 
WOOL IN CAYUGA COUNTY 

FROM ITS FIRST INTRODUCTION 
TO THE PRESENT TIME. 



A Paper read before the Cayuga County Historical Society, 
February nth, 18S7, 

BY WILLIAM HAYDEN. 



CULTURE AND MANUFACTURE OF WOOL 
IN CAYUGA COUNTY 

FROM ITS FIRST INTRODUCTION TO THE 
PRESENT TIME. 



In giving you a lew incidents connected witli the 
early raising of wool, and its manufacture in this 
county, you will allow me to state that it is not my 
purpose to give a minute account of what our large 
and well known establishments have done and are 
now doing, but to put on record a few facts and inci- 
dents connected with the manufacture of woolen 
goods, of which, to my knowledge, there is no docu- 
mentary history. Most of the information possessed 
by me, except from personal knowledge, was obtained 
from my father, and other members of his family, 
who were among the early settlers, and nearly all con- 
nected, more or less, with the business. 

In looking back through the past ages I am led to 
conclude that no material progress had been made in 
the manufacture of woolen goods, for the past 3000 
years, until the last half of the IStli century, when 
the carding machine, the spinning-jenny and fly shut- 
tle were invented, that of the si^inning-jenny being 
the result of an accident. In 1760, James Hargrave, 
a poor, illiterate mechanic of England, who had sup- 



20 CULTURE AND MANUFACTURE OF WOOL 

ported himself and a large family by spinning and 
weaving, made numerous attempts to so arrange spin- 
dles that he might be able to spin two or more threads 
at a time, only to meet with disappointment, until he 
had about concluded it to be impossible. By accident 
one of his children upset his spinning wheel while he 
was at work, and, retaining the thread in hand, was 
surprised at seeing the wheel continue to revolve 
while in a horizontal position with the spindle verti- 
cal. This little incident gave him new ideas and 
encouragement, which in a short time crowned his 
efforts with success and eventually led to a perfect 
revolution in the manner of spinning both wool and 
cotton. 

Sheep have contributed to the comfort of man from 
the earliest time, as we find it the first animal named 
in the Bible — Genesis iv, 2 : "And Abel was a kee^^- 
er of sheep." From this time down through all the 
ages, sheep have been man's best friend, contributing 
of its fleece more to clothe the human family, tlian is 
derived from all other sources combined, while its 
flesh is largely used as a meat food all over the w orld 
and in many countries its milk is considered indis- 
pensable. 

Wool was an article of commerce and high value 
among all the ancient nations, and we find that 
crowned heads were not above caring for sheep — 
II Kings III, 4. "AndMesha king of Moab, was a 
sheep master, and rendered unto the king of Israel an 
hundred thousand lamlis and an hundred thousand 
rams, with the wool.'" Thus we learn that in this re- 
mote age floclts were owned in sufficient magnitude to 
satisfy the most ardent longing of a Texas or Califor- 
nia ranchman. That wool was sjaun in those early days 



IN CAYUGA COUNTY, N. Y. 21 

we find in Exodus xxxv, 25-26, ''And all the wom- 
en that were wise hearted did spin with their hands," 
etc. "And all the women whose hearts stirred them 
u]) in wisdom sx)un,-' etc. The art of weaving dates 
to the earliest dawn of civilization, but in what coun- 
try the loom was first invented, history fails to give an 
account. We find it practiced with great skill by the 
ancients of the East. In Egypt specimens have been 
found entombed with the dead that would do credit to 
any age or nation, which must have been wrought, 
long before the advent of the Israelites into their 
country. Nor would I say that i)Ower looms, pro- 
pelled by machinery, were unknown to the ancients, 
for Job must have had something that moved with 
great rapidity, in his mind when he says "My days 
are swifter than a weaver's shuttle." That the art 
of fulling was understood, we find sufficient evidence 
from numerous mention in the Bible of fuller's 
club, fuller's earth, fuller's soap, and fuller's field. 
We also have the best of reasons to believe that the 
art of dyeing had arrived to a high degree of perfec- 
tion, since we find scarlet, crimson and purple in gen- 
eral use, all of which are colors requiring more than 
ordinary skill for their comx)osition. 

From the best evidence obtained I have been led to 
conclude that the first introduction of sheep into Cay- 
uga county was a small flock of less than twenty, 
from the eastern part of Pennsylvania into the south 
part of the town of Ledyard, in the summer or fall of 
1794, and probably another the same season into the 
town of Genoa, most of which were destroyed by 
wolves, or other wild aninuils which existed then in 
large numbers. A year or two later several small 
flocks reached the town of Aurelius, most of which 



22 CULTITUK ANI> ^I ANTTFArTUKE OF WOOL 

foil lid a stopping })lacH in tliat part comprising the 
present town of Sennett. Tliis appears to liave proved 
a better investment to the enterprising settlers, 
they liaving proliabl y jn'otited from the sad experience 
of their neiglibors in Ledyard, and h^arned that eter- 
nal vigilance was, in those days, the price of sheep. 

The new settler, after making a commencement by 
clearing a few acres on his farm, putting uj) a log 
honse and procuring a cow, had a desire for a flock of 
sheep, but often felt that his means were too limited 
and the prospect of raising money sufficient for a cash 
purchase too uncertain, soon found a way to accom- 
plish his purpose. Thousands of sheep were driven 
into the county with the object of "letting out to 
double," which meant to let a person have a certain 
number, to be returned at a time agreed upon, — in 
two, three or four years, in as good condition and 
double in number. A large rate of interest, but what 
proved in many cases the foundation of large flocks 
and so in time a blessing to many. Another system 
in practice was to let sheep for longer terms, the one 
taking them to return the owner a certain amount of 
wool iier head (generally one and one-half pounds) 
each season, and at the expiration of his lease of six, 
eight or ten years, as had been agreed, to return as 
many sheep as good in age and all other conditions as 
those received and he retaining the increase. 

To relate a little incident may not be out of place 
here : One of the early settlers of the town of Mentz, 
after a year's hard work on his purchase, having 
made a good clearing and put things in shape for 
housekeeping, returned to his former home in Wash- 
ington county to claim his betrothed. After the 
marriage ceremony, the officiating clergyman was ten- 



IN CAYUGA COUNTY, N, Y. 23 

dered a liberal fee. He being of a generous disposition, 
handed the amount to the bride accorai^anied by a 
lequest that she invest the amount in sheep and have 
them put out to double on as good terms as possible 
and tliat they and their increase be so kept until her 
lirst born son should arrive to the age of twenty-one 
when all should be his. Supposing the number of 
slieep bought was eight, and the time twenty-seven 
years, when the son arrived at his majority the tlock 
would amount to 4096. 

From the year 1800 forward, by the continual intro- 
duction from the east, and natural causes, the increase 
of sheep in the county was rapid, while tlie facilities 
for the manufacture of the wool remained limited and 
primitive. Wool carding was all done by liand, with 
a pair of hand cards, while the spinning was done on 
a home-made wheel, which was often constructed by 
some member of the family or neighborhood who ha])- 
jiened to be gifted with a sufficient amount of skill. 
Tlie wdieel was made sometimes entirely of Avood, but 
generally with an iron spindle forged by some country 
blacksmith. The weaving of tlie yarn thus made, into 
cloth, was done by some women of the vicinity, edu- 
cated in that line of work, on a loom equally as crude 
as the si)inning wheel. Her pay was from four to six 
cents per yard, and enabled her to earn from twenty- 
five to fifty cents per day, according to her skill and 
tlie quality of yarn. 

This is the condition in which we find woolen man- 
ufacturing in Cayuga county at the commencement of 
the present century, prior to which all woolen cloth 
made had been used as it came from the loom, and 
consequently was simply Hannel. Aaron Hayden, of 
Conway, Massachusetts, in the spring of 1800, after a 



24 CULTURE AND MANUFACTURE OF WOOL 

five, weeks' journey, with ox and horse teams, readied 
tills county and located two and one-half miles north 
of Hardenbiirg's Corners, now the city of Auburn, 
and in the early fall of the same year erected the first 
fulling mill operated in the county of Cayuga. The 
mill was what is known to the craft as a crank mill, 
consisting of a stock and two wooden hammers, each 
of about ten by twenty inch face, worked back and 
forth against the cloth by a double crank, so that 
while one was driven back, the other was drawn for- 
ward to return at the next revolution of the wheel. 
This mill was of capacity to full sixty yards in twenty- 
four hours. The power was obtained from water flow- 
ing from a large spring on his farm. For the more 
particular information of the members of this Society, 
I will state that the spring here spoken of is about 
forty rods to the north-west of the North street forks, 
one road leading to Weedsport and the other to Sen- 
nett, and now owned by Joseph Price. Mr. Hayden 
used this mill for fulling such cloth as was made in 
the vicinity and brought to him for that purpose, un- 
til his death in 1804. Mr. Hayden also practiced dye- 
ing and finishing or dressing cloth, in his primitive 
manner, using a five-pail brass kettle in which to do 
the dyeing, and for shearing a pair of shears consist- 
ing of two ponderous blades, and looking more like a 
pair of mammoth sheep shears than like a modern 
shearing machine. This machine was operated by the 
hands, the broad blades lying flat upon the cloth, which 
was spread over an evenly cushioned table, a man being 
able to shear from eight to twelve yards per day, ac- 
cording to his experience in the business. The second 
fulling mill is believed to have been erected two years 
later in the town of Ledyard, at what is now known 



IN A YUGA COUNTY, N. Y. 25 

as Black Rock. In 1808 Mr. Tyler (grandfatlier of 
R. E. Tyler, of tliis city, ) built a mill at the York 
stieet spring and thus gave his name not only to the 
spring, but to the whole stream, which is still known 
as the Tyler brook. 

Eighteen hundred and four dates the Urst introduc- 
tion of a wool carding machine, for carding wool into 
rolls, by one John Walker, which was located on or 
near the present site of the Lewis flouring mill, on 
Genesee street. From this time carding machines, 
and fulling mills, with all other machinery necessary 
for the dyeing and dressing of cloth, were generally 
built and operated together, and known as clothing- 
works. In 1805 Levi S. Tryon (grandfather of Oscar 
Tryon of this city,) built what was at that time con- 
sidered the most comx)lete works of the kind west of 
Albany, and which he continued to operate success- 
fully until it was destroyed by lire, in the winter of 
1835. The location of these works was at the east end 
of what is known as the upper dam. where the Bench 
brothers now are. The number of such works in- 
creased with the demand until nearly every town in 
the county could boast of one or more, so that by the 
year 1836, or before, more than iifty set of carding 
machines were making rolls in the counry. The sea- 
son for carding would commence as early as the 
weather would permit of washing sheep, generally 
from the middle of May to June 1st. From this time 
forth machines would be run day and night, until Sep- 
tember, all women being in a great hurry to get their 
rolls early, that the spinning might be done during 
warm weather. Knowing the cai)acity of a single set 
of machines, I think myself safe in asserting that not 
less than 500,000 i:)ounds of wool must have been card- 



26 CULTURE AND MANUFACTURE OF WOOL 

ed into rolls each season for a number of years. This 
vast pile of rolls (containing about 150 to the pound,) 
necessitated their being handled a single one at a 
time, for the jiurpose of spinning, by women of this 
county. When help was hired to sjjin, the wages 
were usually seventy-live cents ])er week and board ; 
one run and a half of warp and two runs of filling 
constituting a day's work. Tlie standard run of yarn 
was 1600 yards, usually reeled on a two- yard reel in 
two skeins, which were subdivided into ten equal 
parts of forty threads called knots. The price paid 
for carding for several years was sixpence per pound, 
but competition reduced it to threepence for cash, or 
readj^ pay, and fourpence credit or barter, which was 
the more usual practice, farmers' products being the 
usual medium of payment. Wheat was a legal tender 
at one dollar j)er bushel, which, to turn into money, 
must be carted to Utica, put aboard of flat boats, and 
floated down the Mohawk to Albany. Many times I 
have heard my father relate that at one time he had 
wheat made into flour in this city, sent to Utica by 
sleighs, and sold for two dollars per barrel, to pay 
for dye woods. At another time, when he had allowed 
more than 3000 bushels to accumulate on his hands, 
in anticipation of being able to realize better prices, 
and a time arriving when it was necessary for him to 
sell, the only cash ofl'er obtainaV)le was two shillings 
nine pence, or thirty-four and three-eighths cents per 
bushel, delivered at a flouring mill where the city 
water works are now located. 

Machine carding of wool, like many other great in- 
ventions and improvements, did not meet with the 
favor of all at the outset, some old ladies declaring 
that all wool carded by machine would certainly be 



IN CAYUGA COUNTY, N. Y. 27 

spoiled, wliile others were sure that all such innova- 
tions must be the invention of the evil one, and only 
intf^nded to make their danghters lazy. 

Most sheep in the county, np to about tlie year 
1817, had been of the coarse wool, long legged, jump- 
ing kind. About this date a craze set in for some- 
thing new, that would produce a finer article of wool. 
The Saxon sheep took the preference in this section, 
and in a few years they constituted a majority of the 
sheep in the county. At this time Cayuga was noted 
for its lai'ge and fine fiocks, many of which contained 
a thousand or more sheei) and possessed a national 
reputation. Among the noted breeders of fine Saxons, 
who were owners of fiocks wortliy of mention, I now 
recall the names of Joseph F. Osborn of Mentz, Judge 
Joseph L. Richardson of Auburn, Messrs. Aui-elius 
and Elijah Wheeler of Aurelius, Frederick Gilder- 
sleeve and Gen. Joseph Pettit of Scipio, and John 
Marsh of Ledyard. The fleece of this slieej) weighed 
only about two pounds each, but was fine of fibre and 
very free from oil or gum, giving a variety in quality 
of goods not possible before their introduction. That 
cloth made in the coarse and primitive manner de- 
scribed, entered into the formation of garments to any 
considerable amount some will think improbable. 
The facts in the case aie otherwise ; a large majority 
of not only farmers and mechanics, but of merchants 
and professional men wore these goods. From wool 
raised by Frederick Gildersleeve of Scipio, spun and 
wove in his house, was made cloth sufficient for a 
complete suit of clothes which was i)resented to Amer- 
ica's greatest champion of protection, Henry Clay, 
which he considered good enough for him to wear 



28 CULTURE AND MANTTFACTURE OF WOOL 

while occupying the lionorable position of speaker of 
the house of representatives at Washington. 

Fifty years ago no ready-made clothing for men 
was kept for sale in this county. Its first manufact- 
ure was commenced in the prison in 1838. 

Again thousands of jDieces were annually finished 
as flannel, by being dyed a madder red, a wine, or 
London brown, and pressed for woman's wear; five 
yards, of one yard wide, being considered sufficient 
for a dress pattern. Until after the completion of the 
Erie canal in 1824, but little dj^e woods had been used 
excepting such as were furnished by the native woods 
and barks, the principal being butternut, black wal- 
nut, sumac, oak, ash, soft maple and hemlock. When 
foreign dye woods were to be had they were brought 
in the stick, generally from four to eight inches in 
diameter, and four feet long, and usually converted 
into chips with a common ax, to x)repare it for use. 
The old adage that every flock has its black sheep was 
literally more than true during the days of home- 
spun, and instead of its being despised and rejected, 
as at present, was in great favor, and carefully i)ro- 
tected from the butcher's knife. The black sheep's 
wool mixed with white, not only saved the trouble 
and expense of dyeing, but was the source from which 
was derived the coveted sheep's gray cloth. When 
knit into socks many believed them to be much warm- 
er than when made from other wool, besides being a 
sure preventive and cure of chilblains. I have known 
of persons traveling miles to procure a small lock of 
natural black wool to place in the ear to cure oi- pre- 
vent its aching. 

The first to engage in the manufacture of woolen 



m CAYUGA COUNTY, N. Y. 29 

cloths in the county, as a special and distinct business, 
was William Hayden, a son of the operator of the first 
fulling mill. The principal advantage possessed over 
the usual mode of spinning was the introduction of 
the spinning jenny, making ten threads while the for- 
mer made but one ; and a newly invented (Parsons) 
shearing machine, containing three blades, two spiral, 
which revolved against a straight stationary one, and 
intended to be turned by hand with a crank. Mr, 
Hayden, believing water power to be much cheaper, 
and more steady than that derived from the average 
boy, conceived the idea and made the application, 
which proved a success, and it is believed he was the 
first to so operate a shearing machine, in this or any 
other county. Encouraged by the high price of cloth, 
caused by the war of 1812-14, Mr. Hayden commenced 
his new enterprise under most favorable auspices, and 
for a few years was very successful. The repeal of 
the non-intercourse laws with Great Britain, combined 
with a very low rate of import duty, invited an im- 
mense importation of foreign goods and reduced the 
price of domestics fai" below actual cost to the manu- 
facturer. This, combined with the great scarcity of 
money, or its almost total drainage from the country, 
to pay for importations, soon caused a suspension of 
the business. The above business was commenced in 
1817 near the present location of David Wadsworth & 
Son's scythe factory, now in this city, then in the 
town of Aurelius. Mr. Hayden continued to card 
wool and dress cloth, removing in the spring of 1824 
to the i^resent site of the Hayden factory, near Port 
Byron, doing a large share of such work until 1844, 
when, in connection with a son, under the firm name 
of William Hayden & Son, he added machinery for 



30 CULTURE AND MANUFACTURE OF WOOL 

tlie maniifactiire of a line of clotlis, flannels and yarn, 
designed expressly for the home market, soon build- 
ing up a retail trade unsur]3assed by any of the kind 
in the state. Theii' goods in a short time Avere as fa- 
miliar as ' ' household words ' ' throughout central New 
York, and known as Hayden's extra durable, no 
shoddy cloths and flannels. Some cloths manufact- 
ured by this firm became historical, notably the drab 
overcoat worn by Horace Greeley for twelve or fifteen 
years, when it was stolen. He mourned over the coat 
declaring that it had not outlived one-half of its days 
of usefulness. This mill has continued to be operated 
by its originators, or some one of the sons, to the 
present time, and is now the only one of the kind left 
in the county, out of fifteen or twenty that have at 
different periods been operated within its borders. 

The second enterprise in woolen manufacturing was 
l)y Philip Winegar, at Union Springs, about 1823 or 
4, and was continued in operation by himself or sons, 
until they removed to what is now known as the Can- 
oga mills, in the lower part of the city. This latter 
building was erected for the purpose of a factory in 
1820, by one Eels, an Englishman, but for reasons on- 
ly known to himself, the enterprise was abandoned 
by Eels' sudden departure from the country. 

In 1829 Josiali Barber, a manufacturer from Colum- 
bia county, obtained a contract, and commenced the 
manufacture of satinet in the prison, but soon after 
changed to carpets, which he continued with good 
success for a number of years, and until removed to 
his large buildings on Washington street, where, un- 
der the firm name of Josiah Barber & Sons, it is con- 
tinued in connection with their ten set woolen factory 
for the manufacture of broadclotlis, the two mills con- 



IN CAYUGA COUNTY, N. Y, 31 

suming more than 1,000,000 pounds of wool annually, 
and employing about 275 hands. These mills are now 
owned and conducted by the family of the founder of 
this immense industry. Mr. Barber was also at one 
time largely interested in the manufacture of cheap 
liannels at Throopsville. 

Reuben and Alvah Hiker operated a factory at the 
south end of the prison dam, for a number of years, 
and were the hrst to introduce indigo blue dyeing into 
the county. 

John C. Barr built and conducted a factory a sea- 
son, one-half mile south of Throopsville, selling out to 
an Englishman by the name of Midwood, who con- 
tinued the making of excellent cloths for several 
years. 

David Edwards, direct from Wales, a born manu- 
facturer and well versed in all its branches, started 
another at what is now familiarly known as the bone- 
yard, one-half mile north of the Cauoga mills. O wing- 
to a limited amount of capital, and a dispute in regard 
to his rights in the use of water, he abandoned the 
place and located near Ithaca, where better results 
favored his well deserved efforts. Other factories were 
built and operated in Locke, Moravia and Owasco, 
mostly for a few years, when they would be aban- 
doned as unprofitable. 

Of our large woolen mills I will make only brief 
mention : 

The Auburn Woolen Company's mill, situated in 
the south part of the city, was first erected in 1847, 
since which time it has been much enlarged and im- 
proved, both in building and machinery, and is today 
one of the largest and most thoroughly equipped fac- 
tories in the state, running twenty-five set of machin- 



32 CULTURE AND MANUFACTURE OF WOOL 

ery, using about one and one-half million pounds of 
the finest wool annually, and turning out fancy cassi- 
meres in patterns and finish equal to the best import- 
ed, for which they are often sold. 

The Canoga mills, owned and operated by parties 
interested in the Auburn Woolen Company, run five 
set, making goods identical. The mill is located one 
and one-half miles below. 

The carpet factory of Nye & Wait (George F. Nye 
and William F. Wait), is located at what is familiarly 
known to all Auburn peojole as Hackney falls, and is 
possessed of the best water power on the Owasco out- 
let, • Their buildings and machinery are all first class 
in every particular, enabling them to turn out one- 
half million yards annually of extra superfine car- 
pets. 

Another and radical change in the breed of sheep 
commenced in this county about the year 1836, when 
Joseph F. Osborn of Mentz, and one or two persons 
residing in the south part of the county, made a vent- 
ure in the purchase of a few choice blood Spanish 
Merinos at prices which had been unknown in this 
section. Small flocks of Merinos had been introduced 
into Connecticut and Vermont early in the present 
century, with the idea of improving their native 
hocks. A few having been preserved in pure blood, 
it was demonstrated that no country in the world was 
better adapted to their greatest development. The 
rage to possess pure blood Merinos may be said to 
have culminated in 1865, when the choice of some of 
the noted flocks sold for fabulous prices, that of a 
sheep, in several instances, reaching as high as $10,000 
to $20,000, and aggregating more than $50 j)er pound 
of live weight. Improvement in sheep culture has 



IN CAYUGA COUNTY, N. Y. 33 

continued with marked success so that at the present 
time flocks are not uncommon that produce fleeces 
averaging in weight more than twelve pounds each. 
Those of Howard Try on ol' Fleming, and Newel Frank- 
lin of Ledyard, are deserving of special mention. The 
fleeces of today may be said to weigh more than three 
times those in the days of the Saxons, and not a single 
sheep of the latter is now left in the county. 

The time of the last enterprise in the manufacture 
of woolen cloths in the county has now l)een reached. 
In 1866 William Hayden, Jr. and Richard T. Morgan, 
with firm name of William Hayden, Jr. & Co., effect- 
ed a lease of a newly erected building at the dam a 
few rods below Auburn's present noted stone arch 
bridge. This building they equipjited for a two set 
mill of new and latest improved machinery, the cards 
and jacks being the largest ever used in the county 
up to this time. With one of the latter, containing 
264 spindles, a man was able to produce an amount of 
yarn that would have required the united effort of at 
least 200 women, with the spinning wheel, to have 
equaled in the same sx^ace of time. This firm manu- 
factured none but honest goods, and found a ready 
market for all they were able to produce, and should 
have proved a fortune to all interested. Like the first 
enterprise of the kind in the county, this was com- 
menced soon after the close of a war, when prices 
were highly inflated, and as a consequence conducted 
on a continually falling market. Soon after the expi- 
ration of their lease of the building the machinery 
was sold to J. S. Manro, who used it for many years 
in making the celebrated Manro yarns. 

In taking a retrospective view, we find not less than 
three complete revolutions in the manner of manufact- 



34 CULTUKE AND MANUFACTURE OF WOOL 

iiring woolen clotlis since the first year of the present 
century. At the first hand cards only were used, 
which were supplemented by the carding machine for 
making rolls ; thej^ in turn giving way to the small 
factories. And so complete is the displacement of the 
roll card, that of more than fifty machines engaged in 
that business less than fifty years ago, but one re- 
mains to remind us of the past. The single remaining 
machine is rendered historical as being the one on 
which Millard Fillmore, afterwards president of the 
United States, served his apprenticeship. The small 
factory in its turn is driven to the wall by the large 
corporations, which, with caj^ital and skill, combined 
with a classification of labor, produce goods at a less 
cost than possible for the foi'mer. The spinning wheel 
was followed at first by the jenny, then by the jack and 
now by the mule. Bj the help of the latter a gii'l of 
fifteen, with much less bodily exertion, can accomplish 
more than was possible for a man with the best jacks, 
which I have before noticed were capable of doing the 
work of more than 200 women in the old manner. 
With later made machines for the purpose, one girl is 
able to shear more cloth, and in a much better man- 
ner, than could 1000 men 100 years ago. 

Today ten persons with the labor-saving machinery 
invented and brought into use during the past cent- 
ury, are enabled to accomplish as much in the manu- 
facture of woolen goods as would have been possible 
for 1000 to have done before. During the same time 
the wages of operatives have increased more than four 
fold, enabling them to dress and live much better than 
did proprietors in the olden times. But during the same 
time the manner of living lias been revolutionized. 
What were then considered luxuries have now by 



IN CAYUGA COUNTY, N. Y. 35 

usage become necessaries, so that it is but little more 
frequent that i^roperty is accumulated by days' work 
than formerly, exce^it by those who are satisfied to 
live as did our grandparents. I anticipate the ques- 
tion of future progress, many doubting its continuance 
possible, thinking each new improvement must be the 
culmination of perfection. From what direction, or 
in what particular line, the next great advance will be 
made is not for me to predict, but that it is sure to 
come is the firm belief of your histoiian. 



EMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 



A Paper read before the Cayuga County Historical Society, 
Decemder 17th, 1878, 

BY J. J. THOMAS. 



MEMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 



[A peculiar interest attaches itself to the leading 
minds amoni;- the early settlers of the country, who 
entered as new ground the regions that had for so 
many centuries remained an unbroken wilderness, and 
which was first opened by them to the influences of 
civilization, and which will doubtless teem with enter- 
prise, intelligence, and educated nund for long centu- 
ries to come. Within much less time than the com- 
pass of a single century, the forests have been broken 
and swept away, large cities have sprung up, innumer- 
able and richly cultivated fields have spread over a 
vast domain, and through the agency of canals, rail- 
roads and other general improvements, this young 
country has assumed a commercial and social position 
on a full level with the long existing communities of 
Eurox)e. Among the men who took an early and 
active part in these imx^rovements, and whose influ- 
ence was largely felt in promoting the general benefit 
of the people was the subject of this memoir. ] 

David Thomas was born on the banks of the Schuyl- 
kill, in Pennsylvania, on the 5th of June, 1776, or one 
month before the Declaration of Independence, and 
he was consequently a subject of George III, for that 
brief period. His early years were passed during the 
storms and commotions of that struggle for life and 
existence, the war of the American Revolution. His 



40 MEMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 

father, althougli a member of the Society of Friends, 
took so great an interest in the conflict and possessed 
so much influence, that a commission as colonel of a 
rifle company was held by him, but he was never 
called into action in the field. David Thomas secured 
an English education and was so thorough a student 
in mathematics that at one time he nearly destroyed 
his health by the intenseness of his studies. After 
his marriage he removed in 1801 to the region of 
country in Lycoming county, then known as the Elk- 
lands, and also by the name of Beech Woods, where 
he purchased several hundred acres. He remained 
there about four years, during which time he gave 
special attention to the study of natural history and 
botany. He corresponded with the elder Prof. Barton 
of Philadelphia, one of the first botanists of that day, 
who named a new genus of plants after him, the 
Thomasia, but this name did not stand, as it had been 
previously applied to another plant, after a Swiss 
botanist of that name. The wild and magnificent 
scenery of that region naturally inspired a poetical 
imagination, and he wrote a descriptive poem entitled, 
' ' The Wilderness, ' ' which, however, was never pub- 
lished, but remains in manuscript, and as a brief 
specimen I copty the following descriptive account, 
addressed to a friend : 

"Nor linger long, 
While Allegany rises from afar, 
Blue in the dim horizon. There behold 
The land of fountains and perpetual rills. 
Whose waters down a hundred rivers roll 
To visit distant climes. And now they dash 
The sun-deserted coast of Labrador, 
Or sweep the deck on Hatteras' stormy cape, 
Or meet in southern gulf the mighty tide 



MEMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 41 

That hurries round the Atlantic. There thine eye 
Shall range a region vast, which claimed its form 
In the first period of the reign of Time. 
Hills beyond hills in dim succession rise 
And stretch along to meet the orient sun. 
Midst these, from fancy's airy station, see 
Where Burnet's lofty mountain bounds the view 
And overlooks the wild." 

He also wrote while there a short x)oem entitled, 
"The Wounded Duck," which was widely i^ublished 
at the time. It referred to an incident which occurred 
on the waters of the beautiful Elk Lake, in front of 
his dwelling. 

He has often remarked on the suddenness with 
which thunderstorms arose and swept over these 
mountains, and on one occasion when a mile from 
home at work on the mountain side, he saw indica- 
tions of a gathering tempest, and knowing the rapid 
progress of such storms, left immediately on a run for 
home. His quickness of foot in those young days has 
been compared to that of a deer, and on his way he 
had just passed under a large hemlock and was twen- 
ty yards from it when it was shivered to fragments by 
lightning. Some other unusual electric occurrences 
which he witnessed at different times, were of so inter- 
esting a character that it may not be out of place to 
narrate them briefly. 

During his early residence in this county the light- 
ning struck a large bass-wood on his farm and split it 
into portions about the size of fence rails, and he com- 
pleted the work by cutting them of the usual length 
for building the fence. Some of his neighbors regard- 
ed him with much suspicion for what seemed to them 
almost sacrilege in employing an agent from the 
clouds to prepare his fencing material. On another 



42 MEMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 

occasion, during a long horseback journey, lie was 
overtaken by a dark and rainy night. Suddenly two 
flames or bushes of light sprung up from his horse's 
ears, an appearance which has sometimes terrified the 
ignorant, but which he knew at once to be the result 
of a negatively electric cloud overhead ; the fluid es- 
caping from the earth to the cloud above through the 
horse's ears, in the manner well known to electricians 
in the form of a brush of light. Again, after his re- 
moval to Union Springs, another curious occurrence 
took place. An electric discharge, as loud as the re- 
port of a musket, passed upward through the side of 
his house, boring a hole in the sill board, and throw- 
ing the mud on the window panes and against the 
cornice above. These marks remained for some years. 
While residing near Aurora, as he sat one stormy 
evening in his study, an intensely loud clap of thun- 
der, followed instantaneously the flash of lightning 
which appeared to envelope the stove and pipe, in the 
room where he sat, in flame. The next morning the 
silver point of the contiguous lightning rod was found 
melted into a round ball ; and the Joist under the 
stove was covered with splinters, and many more had 
fallen on the cellar bottom. The rod had not brought 
down the whole discharge, and part had passed into 
the stovepipe and down through the two stories of the 
building, introducing the result already described. 

To return to the narrative. After remaining nearly 
four years at the Elk Lands he found that however 
excellent the country and beautiful the scenery, he 
was too far from all markets, and widely removed 
from the various facilities of civilization ; and leaving 
his farm he removed to Levanna, in this county, and 
soon after purchased and settled on a farm in that 



MEMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 43 

neighborhood where he long resided. This farm was 
a portion of the four hundred acres of wheat, sown as 
the iirst crop after clearing by Judge John Richard- 
son, and his residence was known to his many corres- 
pondents as Great Field. 

Although he had not received a medical education 
he had given much attention to medical reading, and 
possessed much knowledge, judgment and skill. 
When the formidable disease known as the "cold 
plague" prevailed in 1812, he was called upon by his 
neighbors, in the absence of a physician, and had a 
large number of patients under his immediate charge. 
Every one of these recovered, although the disease 
was fatal in many cases elsewhere. When, in 1815, 
he made a journey mostly on horseback to the Wa- 
bash river, at Vincennes, Terre-Haute and Fort Hani- 
son the exposure of the journey brought on symptoms 
of rapidly approaching disease. He gave the follow- 
ing account at the time: "Paroxysms of tliat dis- 
tressing sensation which physicians have denominated 
anxiety (the stomach being the seat of the disease) 
had daily increased ; and my traveling companion, 
(Jonathan Swan of Aurora,) had marked the change 
with silent apprehension. On descending into the 
first flats of the Wabash river it returned with vio- 
lence, and I entreated my companions to prepare an 
emetic without delay, but the proposal was rejected, 
for the air was replete with putrid vapor, the sky 
overcast and the ground wet with the late rain. In 
this comfortless extremity, without the means of 
preparation, I applied dry pearlash to my tongue till 
the skin was abraded, taking it rather in agony than 
in hope. The relief was sudden ; the fomes of the 
fever were neutralized, and my recovery seemed like 



44 MEMOIE OF DAVID THOMAS. 

enchantment. Repeated doses of this alkali in a few 
days completed the cure, and I have since witnessed 
its efficacy in others. Its action is chiefly chemical." 
This snbstance, the snb-carbonate of potash, has now 
given way to others in domestic use, and it is no long- 
er to be had in shops. 

Again, when he was ap]3ointed exploring and chief 
engineer of the Erie canal between Rochester and 
Buffalo, with ten or twelve assistants, the country be- 
ing new and much of it unsettled so that the company 
had to carry and lodge in tents through the flrst sum- 
mer, he directed that none of the men should drink 
water that had not been first boiled. The few who 
broke this order, were in every case prostrated with 
sickness ; those who strictly observed it all escaped. 

These few facts are mentioned to show the sound 
judgment and intelligence which he possessed on 
whatever subject was presented to him. 

His journey to the west, already alluded to, led to 
the publication of a journal of his travels, which was 
chiefly occupied with notices of the natural history, 
topography, geology, antiquities, manufactures, agri- 
culture and commerce of the western country. It 
was printed by David Rumsey of Auburn, and was 
issued in 1819. The merits of this book may be in- 
ferred from the fact that Governor Clinton (who had 
occasionally corresponded with David Thomas,) sub- 
scribed for twelve copies ; and he subsequently re- 
marked to one of the canal commissioners, then in the 
early history of the Erie canal, ' ' The man who wrote 
that book will make an excellent canal engineer." 
He was accordingly ai^pointed early the following- 
year, as already remarked, chief of the company of 
exploring engineers for the line between Rochester 



MEMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 45 

aud Buffalo, and was occupied through the season of 
1820 in laying out the line between these two points. 
This ajDpointment was not of his own seeking ; he had 
not asked for it nor expected it. It was a very unus- 
ual circumstance that one who had had no experience 
as such, nor in any subordinate position, should be at 
once placed at the head in so responsible a charge. 
He had, however, previously had great experience as 
a land surveyor in various parts of the country, in 
which his services were widely and continually sought. 
He had entire charge of this line, as chief engineer, 
till its completion. 

As a proof of the wisdom of Gov. Clinton in select- 
ing him, and of the skill which he possessed, it may 
be stated that he had two separate lines of levels run 
under his immediate inspection by two separate com- 
j)anies of assistants, from Rochester to Lockport, a 
distance of sixty miles. As this distance was a con- 
tinuous level, it was of the utmost importance that it 
should be correctly run in order that the water in the 
channel might stand at a uniform height throughout, 
as well to satisfy the canal commissioners and the pub- 
lic as to guard against any possible error. When the 
two lines of level were completed, a comparison was 
made at the end of the sixty miles, and they were 
found to vary a little less than two-thirds of an inch 
from each other. Such an achievement in engineering 
skill, it is believed, had never been equalled at that 
time. He subsequently laid out and had charge as 
chief engineer of the Cayuga and Seneca canal, and of 
the Welland canal in Canada during the first year of 
its construction. 

Soon afterwards the Canal Board of Pennsylvania 
applied to Gov. Clinton to select the best engineer he 



46 MEMOIK OF DAVID THOMAS. 

coTilcl name to take charge of the public works of that 
state. He at once recommended David Thomas, and 
the Board invited him to that position with the privi- 
lege of naming his own salary. But on account of the 
lingering illness of a member of his family, he said 
that nothing could induce him to leave home, and he 
declined further service of the kind. 

It was during his position as chief engineer on the 
western portion of the Erie canal, that the high ap- 
pointment which he held and the great confidence 
reposed in him, awakened jealousy in certain persons 
who imagined that he had obstructed their paths and 
who consequently met him with bitterness. This treat- 
ment led to his intention of resigning. The following 
extract from a letter of Gov. Clinton (now in my pos- 
session), dated February 23d, 1822, will show in what 
esteem his abilities were held : 

' ' David Thomas called on me to signify his intention 
of resigning the j)Ost of engineer. This I resisted, on 
the ground of his great usefulness and high reputa- 
tion, and he promised to take the subject into full 
consideration, and to write to you. Mr. Wright says 
the services of Mr. Thomas are all important. Con- 
sidering the weight which is due to this opinion, I 
trust you will not hesitate upon Mr. T.'s continuance. 

It appears that Mr. , a sub-engineer, treated Mr. 

Thomas with great rudeness, recently in Albany ; and 
that his unaffected meekness shrinks from collision 
with such a rough and rude temper. I have written 
to Mr. Thomas that he must not resign. The report 
has excited great alarm among the friends of the 
canal." 

A controversy arose on the place for the western 
terminus oi the canal. A strong inlluence was brought 



MEMOIK OF DAVID THOMAS. 4^ 

to bear in favor of ending it at Black-Rock, and mak- 
ing a large and expensive harbor at tliat point. This 
course was strongly opposed by David Thomas, who 
favored Buffalo as the place for the true harbor, and 
a long and heated controversy followed. De Witt 
Clinton and one other commissioner firmly maintained 
the ground assumed by David Thomas, but the major- 
ity went for Black- Rock. It was, however, decided to 
continue the channel, as a branch, to Buffalo. To any 
one who has seen the present condition of the two 
places, no comment is required. The business all went 
to Buffalo. It was during this controversy that (xov. 
Clinton said in private to Mr. Thomas, "I am willing 
to risk my reputation on the correctness of all your 
predictions on this subject." At the conclusion of one 
of the several documents which he published in this 
controversy, Mr. T. said, "I now submit the question 
to the elements, and if Buffalo harbor becomes a fail- 
ure, I shall then, but not till then, confess my error." 

One of his friends wrote, ''I have heard Gov. Clin- 
ton say that Thomas on! 3^ laclved impudence to pass 
for a much greater man than a certain Professor he 
then named. But with his habitual modesty and po- 
lite deference to the opinion of others, no man was 
more firm and decided when he knew he was right ; 
and to this trait in his character, the great city of 
Buffalo is somewhat indebted for its present commer- 
cial x30sition. 

"Integrity and faithfulness in those who hold im- 
portant public trusts was not too common even in 
those days ; these virtues have not increased any in 
frequency up to the present time. During all the 
years in which he was employed as engineer by the 
state he maintained incorruptible and unflinching in- 



48 MEMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 

tegrity, and he never permitted its financial interests, 
so far as they were under his control, to suffer by a 
single cent. Some of his associates thought him too 
particular, but he answered with emphasis, ' I intend 
to be as scrupulously accurate in all my money trans- 
actions with the state, as with a near neighbor or 
friend.' " 

His interest in the study of geology and botany con- 
tinued unabated, and he employed every oi)portunity 
to impart a taste for these sciences to the many young- 
men wlio were in his employ at different times as 
assistants. Among these some have since become 
widely known for their eminent scientihc acquire- 
ments. While thus employed in the field he com- 
menced his rare collection of native and hardy exotic 
plants. Many of these, as they stood in the garden, 
had an interesting history connected with their collec- 
tion. He has sometimes shown his friends a rare 
specimen which he secured from the woods near the 
middle of a moonlight night, while the stage in which 
he was traveling was changing its horses, and which 
he had previously marked at another time when it 
was in l)loom. His eminent scientific knowledge sub- 
sequently led to his election as an honorary member 
of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New 
York, of which De Witt Clinton Avas president, and as 
a corresponding member of the Horticulture Society 
of London, and of the Linno^n Society of Paris. At 
the earnest request of Gov. Clinton a correspondence 
was opened and continued with his son, George W. 
Clinton, on scientific subjects, until, after the death 
of the governor, the young botanist was compelled to 
seek other studies. 

During the last thirty years of his life he devoted a 



MEMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 49 

portion of liis attention to the culture of an extensive 
collection of fruits, and to the study of pomology. 

The culture of flowers was especially attractive to 
him. His contributions on these subjects to the period- 
ical press were highly valued, and largely contributed 
to the rapidly increasing taste throughout the country. 
He was a constant correspondent of the original Gene- 
see Fanner, published by Luther Tucker at Rochester 
in 1830, and for many subsequent years. The j)ubli- 
cation of this paper opened a new era in periodical 
agricultural literature, as it had a wide circulation 
among practical farmers, and was especially adapted 
to their wants. The publisher depended largely on 
the assistance afforded by Mr. Thomas in this enter- 
prise, which was given gratuitously, with the hope of 
benefltting its many readers, and of promoting the 
advancement of scientific knowledge and of improved 
cultivation. 

David Thomas was a, member of the Society of 
Friends. In the early settlement of the county large 
numbers fixed their residence in the region a few miles 
east of Aurora. For some years they held their meet- 
ings in a house built of logs, w^here many assembled. 
Among the transient attenders, which Mr. Thomas 
mentioned as having seen there was Judge Cooper 
(the father of Fenimore Cooper, the author), who 
had been educated in connection with this Society. 
A large and commodious building soon took the place 
of the log structure. Among the prominent men at 
that time connected with this Society were Jethro 
Wood and Jonathan Swan. In 1828 the widely 
known separation took place, and the two resulting 
bodies were known as the Orthodox and Hicksites, — 
the former holdino: what are known as evanoelical 



50 MEMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 

views, while the hitter were mostly Unitarians, al- 
tliough announcing no prescribed belief. David 
Thomas was among the former, and of the prominent 
members who were associated with him were Joseph 
Tallcot, Allen Mosher, Humphrey Howland, Slocum 
Howland and Richard Tallcot. 

Phebe Field (the mother-in-law of Humphrey How- 
land), well known for her charitable and religious la- 
bors, was also a member of the orthodox Society, as 
well as Sarah S. Merritt, who died last year at the age 
of 97, and of whom an interesting incident, in her ad- 
vanced years, is worth mentioning. On account of 
her declining strength she was in the habit of taking- 
wine regularly as a stimulant, supjoosing it necessary; 
at the age of 94 she discontinued its use as a matter of 
principle, whatever might l)e the result. Her healtli 
and strength immediately improved. 

A more particular account of the character and la- 
bors of Joseph Tallcott is worthy of notice in this con- 
nection. He was descended from Gov. Tallcott of Con- 
necticut, who died in 1741. He became early interest- 
ed in the cause of education and his self-sacrilicing in- 
terest in this cause was shown by an occurence soon 
after his marriage, which his wife related to the writer 
of this memoir. He then resided in Duchess Co., N. 
Y. where he had observed the deficient condition of 
the common schools. He became associated with oth- 
ers for establishing a boarding school for advanced in- 
struction, and although his means were moderate, he 
made the liberal subscription of One Hundred Pounds 
for this purpose. And about the same time on the 
occasion of a visit to their relatives, he j)ursued so 
rigid a system of economy in order to meet this liber- 
ality, as to use a harness for his horses with traces 



MEMOIK OF DAVID THOMA.S. 5l 

made of hemp roj^es. He subsequently became deeply 
interested in the cause of temperance from having 
witnessed the destructive effects of the general use of 
alcoholic drinks. He wrote an address on the subject 
which lie took to tlie Presbyterian Synod, held at 
Geneva in 1816. It was examined by the committee of 
overtures, approved, and he was invited to read it be- 
fore the Synod. Resolutions adopted by that body 
show the appreciation in which it was held, declaring 
that from that time they would abandon the use of ar- 
dent spirits, except for medical purposes ; that they 
would speak against its common use from the pulpit ; 
that they would seek for and give preference to labor- 
ers who would comply with their views, and use all the 
influence they had to prevail with others to follow 
their exanij)le. These documents being cojDied into 
papers were extensively circulated and read, and 
doubtless contributed to the advancement of this great 
cause, then in its infancy. Soon after this occurrence, 
Joseph Tallcot, with the assistance of David Thomas, 
was engaged in the publication of religious tracts, and 
he continued their publication for a great number of 
years, (under the name of the Friendly Visitant), which 
were subsequently collected and bound in two small 
volumes. He was much interested in the improve- 
ment of our district schools, many of which he visited 
through the country. He died in 1853. 

David Thomas was an uncompromising opponent of 
A.merican slavery, and frequently wrote brief articles 
on the subject. He was well aware of the dangerous 
character and utter incompatibility of this system to 
our free institutions, and during the last years of his 
life, a few years before the breaking out of the war of 
the Rebellion he often asserted that a terrible retribu- 



52 MEMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 

tion was coming ui)oii the country, but lie did not 
think he shoukT. live to see it;. 

It is impossible to depict the true character of such 
a man in his social intercourse, but a few incidents 
will throw some light on his kind and unprett^nding 
manners in his family. During the years in which he 
frequently contributed to the agricultural i)ress, it 
was his practice when he had written any important 
article to read it to his children, and to invite their 
free criticism whicii was accordingly given and re- 
ceived as between companions and equals. Mniiy 
years ago he had adopted political views not fully in 
accordance with those held by his sons, and although 
all of them were young, and a pai't of them not of age, 
yet out of respect to their opinions he abstained fjom 
voting and subsequently adopted their sentiments. 

The latter years of the life of David Thomas were 
spent in the village of Union Springs, to which place 
he removed a large portion of his extensive collection 
of rare plants. 

His entire withdrawal from business enabled him to 
devote much of his time to his favorite pursuit, the 
culture of Howers. There is no doubt that the inter- 
est and delight which the occupati(ui afforded him, 
and the open air exercise which was connected with 
planting seeds, bulbs and shrubs contributed materi- 
ally to the preservation of his health and to the 
lengthening of his days. His was emphatically a se- 
rene old age. His last illness continued but a few 
days. He died on the 5th of November, 1859, aged Si^ 
years. Dr. Kennicott of Illinois, President of the 
North- American Fruit-Growers Association (an organ- 
ization which was afterward merged in the American 
Pomt)logical Society) gave the following testimony iu 
an address after his decease : 



MEMOIR OF DAVID THOMAS. 53 

"I would fain speak of David Thomas, our first 
President, and father of Horticulture in the West. 
His life had been as blameless as a child's, and his 
usefidness commensurate with his lengthened years, 
and the powers of a god-like mind, simplicity, beauty, 
truthfulness and grandeur. His history is written in 
the hearts of the lovers of science and on the long line 
of New- York's first great work of internal improve- 
ment." 

One who knew him intimately wrote of him, "His 
various reading and large ex2:)erience in life rendered 
him an admirable companion for the refined and cul- 
tivated, while his kindly disposition, playful and gen- 
ial nature and simple habits, endeared him to all. 
His life was unsullied and his death marked by that 
positive serenity and composure well befitting the 
character of a Christian gentleman." 



BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM BOSTWICK, 



I'.Y HIS SON, 

HENRY H. BOSTWICK. 



A PaPEK RK\n HKIOKK THE Cwi^liA CoUNTY HlSTOKU A I, SociETY, 

Ski'ikmukk iiLh, 1S77. 



BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM BOSTWICK. 



In complying with your request to furnish a paper 
relative to William Bostwick, my father, I experi- 
ence a delicacy which would not be felt by an indif- 
ferent person, not a relative. 

There are many things which might with propriety 
be said by another, which I am restrained from say- 
ing : I shall therefore confine myself to a brief history 
of the person and his family : which is, I suppose, all 
that is desired by the Society. 

He was a descendant of John Bostwick, who, with 
Arthur Bostwick and Zachariah Bostwick, three 
brothers of Scotch descent, came from England and 
located in Stratford, in the state of Connecticut, in or 
about the year 1668. He was the son of Arthur Bost- 
wick, who was the son of Nathaniel Bostwick, who 
was the son of John Bostwick, one of the three broth- 
ers mentioned. 

He, William Bostwick, was born November 25th, 
1765, and died at Auburn, N. Y., June 24th, 1825. 

Hannah Bostwick, his wife, was born January 22d, 
1768, and died at Auburn, N. Y., August 14th, 1851. 

They were married March 10th, 1790, and had thir- 
teen children, viz : 

Sophia, — born March 23d, 1791, married to Eben- 
ezer Hoskins, December 30th, 1812, and died Novem- 
ber 23d, 1820. 



58 BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM ROSTWIOK. 

Abigail Hawley, — born June 2fith. 1792, married to 
George B. Throop, Angiist 23d, ISlf), and died Febru- 
ary 4th, 1825. 

Laura, — born March 1 8th, 1 794, married to Hugh 
Hughes, January 27th, 1811, and died June 1st, 1815. 

Harriet, — born September 30th, 1795, married to 
Erastus D. Tuttle, December 30th. 1812, and died May 
3d, 1870. 

Polly, — born September 28th, 1798, married to 
Samuel Graves, May 23d, 1819, and died February 
9th, 1876. 

William Warner, — born February 19th, 1799, mar- 
ried to Mary Lewis, April, 1828, and died October 
6th, 1845. 

Hiram, — born August 8th, 1801, married to Ann 
Cornell, January 1st, 1827, and died July 7th, 1853. 

Philura, — born December 1st, 1802, married to 
Daniel W. Cole, December 25th, 1826, and to Lewis 
A. Cole (date unknown), and died October 27th, 1851. 

Augustus Gideon. — born November 20th. 1804, and 
died May 6th, 1872 (never having married). 

James Haney, — born October 21st, 1806, and mar- 
ried to Maria M. Gardner, December 22d, 1830.* 

Jane Elizabeth, — born April 21st, 1809, married to 
Hiram Hugunin, October 27th, 1830, and died Febru- 
ary 28th, 1842. 

Betsey Maria, — born February 14th, 1811, married 
to Joseph P. Mott, November 7th, 1832, and subse- 
quently to Simeon Ide, March 21st, 1859. (Still liv- 
ing.) 

Henry Hobart, — boin January 20th, 1814, married 
to Julia M. Ide, October 4th, 1860. (Still living.) 

He moved his family to Aurelius, near Auburn, 

* James H. Bostwick died June aotli, 1888. 



BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM BOSTWICK. 59 

from Whitestown, Oneida county, N. Y., in Febru- 
ary, 1799 ; he having purchased the ''States hundred 
acres " in Lot No. 46, Aurelius, bounded and described 
as follows : "Beginning at the S. E. corner of lot No. 
46, and running thence North, thirty-one chains and 
sixty-three links ; thence West, thirty-one cliains and 
sixty-three links ; thence South, thirty-one chains and 
sixty-three links to the South line of said Lot, and 
thence East, thirty-one chains and sixty-three links, 
to the place of beginning.'' The south-east corner 
being what is now the south-east corner of the home- 
stead lot of the late John H. Chedell, in the centre of 
South street, the north-east corner being at the inter- 
section of the centre of Genesee street and the centre 
of North and South streets. The north-west corner 
at the intersection of Clark and Benton streets ; and 
the south-west corner in Fort Hill cemetery ; embrac- 
ing the heart of the city both sides of Genesee 
street from South street next to nearly the top of Gen- 
esee street hill ; and from Clark street and a continu- 
ous straight line East therefrom south, to near the 
deep hollow in Fort Hill cemetery and the south line 
of the lands of the estate of John H. Chedell and all 
the rest of South street. 

His first habitation was a log house situate on the 
north side of Genesee street on what is now known as 
93 Genesee street, and his barn stood on what is now 
1 05 Genesee street, and occupied as an elegant jewelry 
store. 

In 1803 he built a frame house on what is now the 
west corner of Genesee street and Exchange, and 
moved into it in 1804, and opened it as a hotel, or 
what was, in those days, called a tavern. 

This he occupied until the year 1816, when he sold 



60 BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM BOSTWICK. 

it to Canfield and Bela Coe, who continued it as a ho- 
tel, and sold to other parties, under whom and subse- 
quent owners it so continued until the year 1868, when 
the building, consisting of the original structui"e witli 
various alterations and additions, and knoAvn as the 
Western-Exchange, was demolished, and the buildings 
now occupied by I. F. Terrill & Co., Auburn City Na- 
tional Bank, &c., were erected upon the spot. 

In 1816 he moved into the house situate on what is 
now the west corner of Genesee and James streets, "^ and 
there continued to reside until the date of his death. 
The consideration for the purchase of the hundred 
acres of land was ^750, and it is evident tliat it did 
not immediately increase greatly in value from the fact 
that in the latter part of 1802, or early part of 1803, a 
bargain was partly consummated, to sell the whole for 
$700 ; all was agreed upon except an allowance for the 
cost of a lot of stone for the cellar of the frame house 
designed to be built upon the premises. This the pur- 
chaser would not agree to, and his refusal defeated 
the bargain. 

He was identified Avitli all of the projects of im- 
provement of the day. 

The location of County Seat was secured at Aure- 
lius by his gift of an acre of land where the Court 
House, Jail and County Clerk's Office now stand. 

He gave an acre of ground to the corporation of St. 
Peter's church, and contributed largely to the erection 
of the first edifice erected upon the lot, and was the 
architect and builder thereof. 

He gave to the Auburn Bank the lot upon which the 
banking house now stands, and thus secured the loca- 
tion in the western part of the village. 

* Now occupied by the First Baptist Church. 



BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM BOSTWICK. 61 

And he oifered to give for a park, or public grounds, 
the land embraced in the triangle formed by Genesee, 
South and Exchange streets, provided the corporation 
of the village would agree to fence and keep it in re- 
pair. 

He was a member and communicant of the Episco- 
pal church, and so was his wife ; and each and every- 
one of his children became members and communi- 
cants of that church. 

The first services of the church in Auburn were held 
in his house and were conducted by him as lay reader, 
and were so continued until a suitable house of wor- 
ship was erected, mth an occasional instance in the 
open air, under a large tree of the then forest. 

He was one of the first vestrymen of St. Peter's 
church, and for many years one of its wardens, and 
contributed largely to its support. 

And before the organization of the society he was 
one of the trustees of a Congregational society in the 
X)lace. 

He lived respected and honored by all who knew 
him ; a true Christian and an esteemed citizen ; and 
as he lived, so he died. 

At this time only three of his thirteen children are 
living : James H. Bostwick, Mrs. Betsey M. Ide, and 
myself. 

I am the only representative proper of the family 
now residing in Auburn. 

Of the hundred acres of land, once the "Bostwick 
farm" and now the heart of the city, not a foot is 
owned by any of the children, except a triangular 
piece, of about three feet upon each side, at the inter- 
section of the south line of Church and ihe east line 
of Pine streets. 



62 BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM BOSTWICK. 

Of the children, seven were born in Auburn, and 
each and every member of the family has been more 
or less identihed with the growth and business of the 
place ; but time with its unhalting strides, and death 
by its relentless claims, and the changes and chances 
of life have reduced the number now resident of the 
city to only one, myself ; and though the youngest, 
sixty-three years of age. I have seen the rise and 
progress of the place, so far as it had advanced during 
my time, having made it my life-long residence, with 
the exception of a few years' occasional temporary 
absence. 

I have grown up and been in maturity with the jplace 
and have well known its residents of village times and 
early city days. 

But, when I look about me now, and find so many of 
the old residents dead and gone, I feel myself compar- 
atively a stranger, in the changing increase of the pop- 
ulation of the city, and am reminded that I, too, am 
growing old ; and that I soon shall have fulfilled my 
allotted time. 

I have now given, to the best of my ability, the rec- 
ord 3"ou desire, and trust it contains all that is requi- 
site for the purpose named, and most respectfully sub- 
mit the paper I have written. 

Henry H. Bostvvick. 
Auburn, N. Y., September 11th, A. D. 1877. 



RECOLLECTIONS OE MY EARLY LIFE 
IN AUBURN. 

BY MRS. DEBORAH BRONSON. 



A Paper rkad before the Cayuga Couniy Historical Society, 

March iilli, iSrfi. 



RECOLLECTIONS OF MY EARLY LIFE 
IN AUBURN. 



In 1791 my fatlier, Robert Dill, purchased lot No. 
37, which formed the north-west corner of Auburn, 
and in 1806 he came here with his family to reside. 
He drove from Rome, where he had been living for 
several years, and brought with him my mother, my 
brother John and my sister Caroline. I know very 
little of his first few years in Auburn, except that at 
the time of my birth the family were living in a large 
stone house which stood on the corner of Franklin 
street and Seminary avenue, and which was long since 
destroyed. I am still waiting for the good luck which 
is said to attend the lives of those peoi)le who are born 
in stone houses. Seminary avenue was at that time a 
narrow road leading from Franklin street to the old 
Stone Mill and to the Centre house, which stood where 
Patten' s market and Devitt' s stores are now located. 
The tavern was a large two-storied wooden building 
with a broad piazza which faced toward East Genesee 
street, and its api^earance was unchanged for many 
years. Market street was an almost unused lane 
which led to North street, passing the houses of Col. 
Hardenberg and Major John Comj^ston, of which I 
shall speak further on. In 1809, my father built his 



66 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

house on the ground where Mr. Howlet now resides,* 
and which for many years was called the ' ' Mount 
House." There I passed my childhood, and lived un- 
til I was married in 1829. The Mount House was a 
large double wooden structure, with four great brick 
chimneys, and it stood a short distance back from the 
road. It had a large hall running through the centre, 
and four rooms on each story, with open iireplaces in 
each room, where we used brass andirons and fenders. 
The beds were large four-posted affairs with curtains 
and valance, and we had several carpets which my 
mother had brought with her from New York, also a 
solid silver tea-service, and which at this time were 
not by any means common in Auburn. There was a 
large piazza extending the whole length of the house 
in the rear, and underneath were the large cellar kitch- 
ens with brick ovens and cranes, while in the lower or 
basement hall we had a bunk built in the wall for the 
use of the servants. Our barns were on the site of 
the house where Mr. Dean now resides, and the pas- 
tures for our cattle and sheep were the lields now cov- 
ered by Orchard and Clark streets, while on the site of 
Dr. Willard's residence was a thrifty orchard. There 
were large forest trees in our yard, with a few poplars 
interspersed, and almost no trees in the road except a 
clump of poplars about opposite Mr. Charles Ross' 
residence. I w'ish I could give you even a faint idea 
of Auburn as it appeared at the time of my father's 
death in 1S13. So much has been written as to the lo- 
calities of the houses and public buildings that you 
are doubtless familiar with them, and I may ]3erhaps 
repeat much that you will not care to listen to. Wash- 
ington street had not then been opened, but was sim- 

* On uorth-east corner of Genesee and Washington streets. 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 67 

ply "Dill's lane" leading to my father's factory and 
dam, wliich stood about where do the buildings of Jo- 
siah Barber & Sons. As children we often strolled 
down to see the hammers at work in the forge shop, 
wading the creek and amusing ourselves in the dense 
woods which extended in nearly every direction, stop- 
X3ing sometimes on our return to let down the bars and 
drive the cattle home to the house on the hill. Oppo- 
site the house where are now the residences of Messrs. 
Ross, Bradley and Case, was a large piece of wood- 
land which extended south as far as the Owasco lake, 
to the east about as far as St. Peter' s church, and over 
the hill nearly to Mr. Garrow's. These woods were 
separated from the street by a rail fence, which I have 
often climbed early in the morning, and then filled my 
pockets with the chestnuts brought down by some 
autumnal frost. The woods were full of wild grapes 
and thorn apples, in addition to the many chestnut 
and butternut trees, which were found in all directions 
about Auburn at this time. We had but few neighbors, 
for over the hill there were but three houses, one oc- 
cupied by Mr. Garrow,* where Mr. Charles A. Smith 
now resides, and just opposite a small dwelling used 
by James Wilson, the father of Mrs. Silas Arnett. 
Between this house and my father's there was a large 
sand bank, from which for many years all our supj)ly 
of building sand was drawn. Beyond Mr. Garrow's 
house was an old distillery and then came Eldad 
Steele's residence, which was just beyond the brook 
on Mr. Charles P. Wood's place. This was a disrep- 
utable old barrack, which afterward fell down from 
old age. Mr. Steele was a very inefficient man, of poor 
education, and we usually called him "steel dad." 

* Now No. 'Z'2\j Genesee street. 



68 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

He had, however, two excellent sons, David and Dan- 
iel, with whom we used to attend school. There were 
no sidewalks at this time, and the paths were much 
nearer the center of the road than are the sidewalks 
of the present day. My father's garden extended 
down Genesee street to Thomas Finn's house, now oc- 
cupied by Mr. Durston, * and the first board fence which 
I can recollect, separated the garden from the street. 
This fence was lined with currant bushes, which bore 
abundantly, as I know to my sorrow, having passed 
many hours in picking the currants. There was a 
great variety of peach and plum trees in the garden, 
and we had beside gooseberry bushes, great clumps of 
smellage, a plant which by cultivation, has become 
our modern celery. Behind it were open fields as far 
as the outlet. Just at the foot of the garden was a 
great barrack built for the use of the soldiers of the 
1812 war. It was on our own ground, and as the com- 
panies usually stopped for some time in passing 
through Auburn, we had plenty of excitement. I 
recollect well how they used to march through our 
muddy roads, and the terror with which I and my sis- 
ters regarded them when they came to my father's 
well to till their canteens. My Uncle, Samuel Dill, 
had charge of them when in Auburn, and I have fre- 
quently been down with him when he went to make 
his visit of inspection in the evening, and seen the 
floor covered with sleeping soldiers. The Indians were 
also a great annoyance to us and to all the villagers. 
There were reservations at Oneida, Onondaga, BuiTalo 
and Union Springs, and the Indians with their squaws 
and papooses strapped on boards tramped incessantly 
through the towns, in parties varying from three to 

* Now No. 189 Geuesee street. 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 69 

an hundred in number. They walked into a house 
without knocking, and were liable to appear at any 
moment in any part of it, begging usually for whisky, 
or for something which could not be conveniently 
spared. When David Horner and his family came 
from Savanna to Auburn, they lived with my mother 
for a time, and one night when Mary Ann Horner 
went up stairs to bed, she was naturally quite terrified 
to find a drunken Indian behind her door. She was so 
frightened that she did not stay to descend the stairs in 
the ordinary manner, but Jumped directly over ths bal- 
ustrade to the floor of the hall, and calling for my Un- 
cle Samuel, who hajjpened to be in the house at the time 
she soon saw the Indian ejected. One day Mrs. Hor- 
ner had put her bread before the oi)en fire to rise, 
when an Indian walked in with his family. He asked 
for whisky, then for money, and being refused, for 
bread. Mrs. Horner could not accommodate him and 
told him so, when he replied, ' ' Dam big house, to have 
no whisky, no money, no bread." I can recollect very 
little of my father, or of the circumstances of his 
death, as until about that time I was so small that I 
slejDt with my twin sister Jane in the trundle bed in 
his room. He died of the epidemic which prevailed 
extensively here in 1812 and 1813, and was attended 
by Dr. Cole, our family physician, who lived in the 
house now occupied by Dr. Brinkerhoff, on North 
street."^ The character of the epidemic I have for. 
gotten, but I know that the treatment of diseases 
was very different from the practice of the present day. 
Hemlock tea was a favorite remedy, and other decoc- 
tions of hemloci^: were used for bathing jDurposes. 
About the year 1814, my Grandmother Bower came up 

* Now No. (50 North street. 



70 EAELY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

from New York to make us a visit. Slie suffered 
acutely from rheumatism, and in hope of relief, a 
mode of treatment not uncommon in those days was 
adopted. A large hole was dug in the garden about 
five feet in diameter and four feet deep, and in this 
pit my grandmother was seated in a chair, and was 
steamed. I can recollect my fear that she would nev- 
er get out from under the blankets with which she was 
covered. Dr. Cole was a very popular physician and 
an excellent man, who divided the practice of the 
town with Doctors Burt and Crosset. They each made 
their calls on horseback with saddle-bags behind them, 
and there being no apothecary shops or drug stores 
they carried their own medicines and i)ut up their own 
prescriptions. After a time sulkies were used, and I 
remember very well their appearance in Auburn, You 
need no description of Dr. Burt, as his apf)earance 
must be well known to many of you by hearsay, if 
not by recollection. Dr. Cole was lame, having one 
leg somewhat shorter than the other, and the exact 
oj)posite of Dr. Burt in stature and complexion. Our 
next neighbor, the Finns, lived at the foot of our gar- 
den, as I said before, in a little unpainted house which 
is yet standing as the western part of Mr. Durston's 
residence. One daughter, Josephine Finn, was an in- 
timate friend of mine for many years, and so was 
Azuba Terry ( now Mrs. S. Barton Hunt), who lived 
in the next house beyond, where Mr, Myers' house 
now stands. The Terry house was a small, one-story 
structure, and Mr. Terry had a blacksmith shop where 
Mr. George Barber now resides,* Mr. Terry was a 
blacksmith, carriage and trunk maker, and he made 
the first trunk I ever had with a real lock and key. 

♦ Now No. 187 Genesee street. 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 71 

It was papered inside and out, and I used it when I 
went to boarding school in Skaneateles, in 1820, 
Where Mrs. Ivison now lives'* was a small house occu- 
pied by Peter Fields, who afterwards had a small jew- 
elry shop where the Cayuga County Savings Bank 
now stands. Fort street was at that time a cattle 
path, and Court street was not very different, although 
there was one house on it about where Mrs. Gilbert 
now lives, and one house on Love lane at the head of 
the street. I can not tell you when Wm. Bostwick 
built his house, which is still standing and is occupied 
by Mr. Gilbert Nichols, f but it was there in my child- 
hood, and his celebrated llower garden is now covered 
by Mayor Walley' s residence. Before Mr. Bostwick 
moved there, he and his family lived in the old Bost- 
wick Tavern, which stood on Genesee street where the 
Dunning store is now located, and its large barns were 
directly on the street, about where are now Mr. Al- 
len's book store and the Express Office. The Tavern 
garden extended from the barns west as far as Wil- 
liam street, and I think it must have been after lots 
had been given from it to tlie Bank of Auburn and 
others that the family moved to the house on the cor- 
ner of James street. Mr. Bostwick was a short, stout 
man, and resembled very strongly his son James, with 
whose appearance you are all familiar. James street 
had not then been opened, and nothing intervened be- 
tween Genesee street and the outlet but open fields, in 
one of which, about where is now the corner of Or- 
chard street, was a lumber yard, where we often 
played among the X)iles of lumber. Where Mrs. Hills' 

* Now No. li'9 Genesee street. 

t Now occupied by tbe First Baptist Cliurcli. 



72 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

house now stands* was a little brick building in which 
we attended school at one time, and where in after 
years the Gospel Messenger was published by Df. 
Rudd; while the site of Br. Smith's housef was a good 
sized pond on which we often floated on rafts in the 
summer, and where the boys skated in the winter. 

My sister Jane and I had been at school before we 
went to the parish school but we were so young that I 
recollect very little about it. We first went to a Mrs. 
Maxwell, who had a school for very little children in a 
room in the Irwin or Goodrich tavern, a large, two-sto- 
ried wooden building, which stood on Genesee street 
about where is now the store of the glove and mitten 
factory. X I wish I could show you one of Mrs. Maxwell' s 
cards or prospectuses, on which embroidery and the 
use of the needle was as prominent an item as Arith- 
metic or Geography. Next we went to Miss Bennett, 
now Mrs. Dr. Clary, who had her school up stairs 
where Keyes' book-store is now located. § I do not 
know that it is the same building, although it looks 
very much as if it might be. We were still very 
young, so that we used lower benches than the rest of 
the girls ; and at recess time we played in the field 
which now extends behind the Cayuga County Bank 
and the adjacent buildings. Dr. Tuttle's barn was in 
this field or flat, and we always enjoyed playing on the 
hay stored in it. Mrs. Clary asked me a few weeks 
since if she used to be very severe with us, and said 
that she was fearful that she had been. I know she 
sometimes kept us after school until dark, and I rec- 

* Now No. 171 Genesee street. 
+ Now No. 173 Genesee street. 
t Now No. 4 Genesee street. 
§ Now No, 51 (ienesee street. 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 73 

ollect liow dreary tlie long walk home used to be un- 
der sucli circumstances. 

But to return to the x:)arisli school. Mr. Mott was 
our first teacher there, and he, as you know, afterward 
married Betsey Bostwick, one of his pupils. Our 
school mates were John, Henry, James, Augustus and 
Betsey Bostwick, Elizabeth Burt, Mary Wilson, Jo- 
sephine Finn, Kate and Charles Richardson, John and 
Adeline Garrow, David and Daniel Steel, and as we 
always called them, "Ham and Josh" Burt. Our 
school hours were from nine until twelve o'clock, and 
from one until five o'clocjk in the afternoon, and we 
had a very different time from the students of the 
present day. We used the old Daboll's arithmetic, 
Webster's speller, and Willett' s geography. Mr. Mott 
always set us our copies for writing. We Avrote with 
quills, made and mended our own pens, and our slates 
had no frames, but were very like the roofing slates of 
the present day. The boys always brought us a pail 
of water in the morning, which we drank from a tin 
dipper, and the girls stayed by turns and swept the 
school house after the session closed in the afternoon. 
Judge Rumsey and his sisters used to be with us at 
school, and we bought our Avriting or memorandum 
books of his father, who ke^jt a little book store down 
town. My sister and I would sometimes, in going to 
school, run out from our house on the hill, and catch- 
ing on behind a stage, would ride down on the trunk 
rack. This was a forbidden pleasure, but we very of- 
ten indulged in it. We always wore woolen dresses of 
brown or red Retinet, while for Sundays we had plaid 
worsted dresses. In winter we never thought of hav- 
ing an overshoe, but wore calico Vandykes and aprons. 
For extraordinary occasions we had black silk aprons, 



74 EARLY LIFE IN AUBUBN. 

which were, considered most extravagant articles. We 
had very few children's books at this time, though I 
remember the histoiy of William Tell, Robinson Cru- 
soe, the New England Primer and Catechism, and one 
book which I always especially admired, called Dor- 
sina Gardner and Her Friends. As we grew older, 
we had The Scottish Chiefs, Thaddeus of Warsaw, 
The Children of the Abbey, and Charlotte Temple. 

Next to the school house was St. Peters Church, a 
small wooden edifice, which was destroyed by fire in 
1882, just after it had been enlarged and renovated. 
The old church built in 1819, as I remember it, had 
three windows on each side, was painted white inside, 
and had a large stove in the south wall, x)art of which 
was in the body of the church and part in the vesti- 
bule. It had four large pews, occupied by Judge Mil- 
ler, Mr. Phelps, our own family, and by Mr. Bostwick 
and his thirteen children. Tlie singing was done in 
the Bostwick pew, and Mr. Bostwick started the tunes 
with his pitch pipe. After each celebration of the 
Communion, the service was carried home by either 
Doctor Burt or the Bostwicks, and taken care of until 
needed again. I recollect distinctly Dr. McDonald in 
1813, Mr. Sitgreaves in 1824, and Lucius Smith in 
1819, and it was not until Mr. Lucas' administration in 
1833, that we ever had anything but morning and af- 
ternoon service. While he was here, we determined 
on a service in the evening, and the ladies of the par- 
ish at that time came together, brought a lot of oil 
lamps, cleaned and filled them, and commenced the 
night services which have since continued. The wind- 
ing of the evergreens for Christmas decoration was in 
old times much more of an event than at present. We 
were engaged in it for many weeks and usually met at 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 75 

Bostwick's in the evening, taking home with ns a 
stock to work upon during the following day. 

At the foot of the lake was a small wooden church 
on the site of the present Sand Beach Church, and 
here we went for the few years which preceded my 
mother's marriage to Dr. Pitney in 1815. This was a 
Dutch Reformed Church, as at present, and it stood on 
the hill side in the same position as the brick cliurch 
which is now used. Dr. Ten Eyck, who is buried in 
the cemetery there, was then preaching, and he bap- 
tized my sister Jane and me. My brother John usual- 
ly drove us out in time for the morning service, and 
we took our lunch and remained for the afternoon ser- 
vice, as was the cust(mi in the country. The services 
were very plain. There was no choir, the singing be- 
ing congregational, and the collections were taken up 
in small velvet or baize bags attached to the end of 
long sticks. I think that once or twice I went to the 
Presbyterian service held by Mr. Woodruif in the first 
or old Court House, which was built in 1809. This 
was a strong, two-story white building, and stood a 
little further back from the street than the present 
Court House, on the same site, with an audience room 
above, and accommodations for the sheriff and the 
county clerk on the ground floor. There was no ofTice 
for the county clerk, and as I said before, simply a 
lane where Court street now extends. 

I recollect perfectly the building of the First Pres- 
byterian church in 1815 and 1816, for after school 
hours we children frequently walked down there to 
watch the carpenters, or to obtain some of the large 
shavings which were constantly falling from their 
planes. There was a very good choir in the new church 
when completed, the first, by the way, ever organized 



76 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

in Auburn, and we used occasionally to be allowed to 
attend service there, wliere we greatly enjoyed the 
singing. The singers whom I best recollect were Mary 
and Caroline Burton, Alta and Sally Hyde, Laura 
Cole, Maria Hardenburgli, Margaret Lytle and Mary 
Ann Horner, who sat on one side of a semi-circular 
gallery at the end of the church. On the other side 
were the men singers, among whom were Aaron Pit- 
ney, Myron C. Reed, Henry Porter and Abijali 
Pitch, and just between them stood the leader, Wm. 
Brown, who started all the tunes with his jiitch pipe. 
We always went early to church that we might get in 
the seat directly beliind the singers, as we were much 
interested in the beautiful hats and feathers which 
they wore. The fashionable hats at one time were of 
pink uncut velvet with long white plumes. In my 
early days all marriages were celebrated on Sunday, 
and the first few i)eople who were married on a week- 
day were thought to have done something not alto- 
gether proper. My mother was married to Dr. Joseph 
T. Pitney on Sunday, June 9th, 1815, directly after 
the afternoon service. My sister Jane and I sat on 
David Horner's lap during the ceremony, dressed in 
our best white dresses, but my brother John, not wish- 
ing to see his mother married, ran away with Jim 
Horner and hid himself in the woods. 

Where St. Peter's parsonage now stands, was a 
small brick house in which Mr, Crowle our shoemaker 
lived. He had his shop in the house, and made us, 
for ordinary use, shoes with leather strings, at a cost 
of $1.50, while for our best satin boots he charged us 
$2.00. Of course our leather shoes had to be greased 
at least once a week in winter, to keep out moisture, 
and we always did it ourselves, on Saturday nights, 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 77 

just as did all other girls in the village. Gentlemen 
sometimes wore leather "boxes," as they were called. 
They were large, heavy, square overshoes, ol' unsight- 
ly apiDearance, and were not by any means common. 
About this time Camlet cloaks began to be worn by 
the gentlemen. 

The next house beloAv Mr. Crowle's was Mr. Pom- 
roy' s, where Mr. Page Van Vechten is now living. * Be- 
yond that was a deep ravine, whose bottom was about 
on a level with Mr. Horace T. Cook's present garden, 
and there in 1816 was built the Stevenson house, now 
occujDied by Dr. George, f In the palmy days of Col. 
Sherwood this was also his residence, but the house 
now looks very much as it did in my childhood. Mr. 
James Fitch' s house came next, and then a small brown 
house, whose ajDpearauce I have almost forgotten, and 
then the celebrated Glover tavern. This was a large, 
two-storied wooden building (now standing on Clark 
street), which stood on the site of tlie present St. 
James hotel. It had a great piazza, and its barns 
stood to the east of it on the present site of the oj)era 
house. In one of these barns I first saw the elephant. 
Of course we had no circuses or menageries in those 
days, but occasionally there were exhibited on the 
streets or in tavern barns such animals as elejohants or 
bears, which could be transj^orted by their own pow- 
ers of locomotion from jAsLce to place. These shows 
commonly arrived in the night, and they consisted for 
the most part of an elephant and one or two other liv- 
ing animals, but the most popular of all entertain- 
ments were the collections of wax figures, which 
came very often, and which were attended by every 

* Now No. 1C5 Genesee street. 

t Now occupied by Goverameut Building. 



78 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

one in the village. They were usually arranged in the 
large l)all-room of the Glover or Bostwick tavern, and 
it frequently took tv^o days to get them in order for 
exhibition. Aniong the figures invariably appeared 
Daniel Lambert and the sleeping beauty ; but I can 
recollect them as distinctly as if I saw them at this 
moment. Bonaparte with enormous epaulettes and a 
sword, the Empress Josephine, Mary Queen of Scots, 
with all her jewels, the Babes in the Wood, the Irish 
Giant, and the Witch of Endor. The latter was ar- 
ranged with springs and machinery, so that she sud- 
denly appeared tlTrough the trap door of the platform 
in a most startling and lifelike manner, while the 
Sleeping Beauty was screened from general notice by 
a beautiful curtain, which was drawn at intervals, dis- 
closing her asleep in a bed with elegant pillows and 
laces. The music at these entertainments was rather 
primitive, and consisted generally of that furnished 
by a fiddle, a triangle and a drum, though occasion- 
all}^ we had a very fine hand organ. The price of ad- 
mission to these shows was a sixpence, and money not 
always being a plentiful commodity, we children took 
turns in our attendance. The foundation of the old 
Auburn museum was a collection of these figures 
which General Chedell purchased of travelling show- 
men who came to financial grief while exhibiting in 
Auburn. 

Our first dancing master was a Frenchman by the 
name of Lalliett, who lived at Cayuga, and taught a 
dancing school in the Bostwick tavern. His classes 
were at two o'clock in the afternoon, and terms were 
two dollars for a quarter of twenty lessons. The boys 
and girls were taught separately, until the middle of 
the quarter, when they came together and met in the 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 79 

evening. My life as a child, however, was not devot- 
ed to shows, nor to dancing schools, nor entirely to 
recreation. There was always much to be done at 
home, as there was in the house of every family in 
Auburn. We made all our OAvn candles, and I have 
frequently dipped both large and small ones. You 
doubtless all know the tedious process, and if you 
have seen home made candles know how they looked 
when they were done. The first wax candles I ever 
saw were sent to my mother in 1815 by my grandmoth- 
er in New York, and they were considered great curi- 
osities. I have chopped sausage meat with a hatchet, 
as sausage machines were not then heard of ; and un- 
til just before I was married I had never had a stock- 
ing except those I knit myself. I have picked and 
carded both black and white wool for hours at a time, 
for our woolen dresses were frequently made from the 
wool of our own sheep, which we sent to the factory 
to be spun and dyed. We had spinning wheels in the 
house, as our own flax was spun ami made into linen, 
and they were frequently used, but I Avas never accom- 
plished enough to spin, as my thread always broke. I 
have, however, in later years, sx)un a yarn or two for 
the entertainment of my friends, but never one quite 
so extended as this. 

You must recollect that in my childhood there were 
few social or other distinctions in Auburn. We all 
dressed alike, and that very plainly, while our houses 
were furnished simply throughout the village. Mrs. 
Woodin and Mrs. Seward, then Miss Miller, attended 
one of the first parties ever given by my sister Caro- 
line, and they wore ordinary bombazine dresses, which 
were entirely in keeping with the costumes of the 
guests. 



80 EAKLY LIFE IN AUBUBN. 

There were no hotels or boarding house accommoda- 
tions in early days as the taverns were filled by tran- 
sient guests, and newcomers were dependent upon the 
hospitality of the villagers until they could build 
houses for themselves. Grovernor and Mrs. Throop 
lived at my mother' s for a time, when they came here 
in 1809, and so did Judge Richardson, who came here 
a few years later. The Governor brought with him 
from the east a black servant, who was a source of 
great annoyance to us from his loose ideas as to prop- 
erty, and the Governor was obliged to whip him, in 
1810, for stealing cakes from my mother's pantry. 

Just below the Glover tavern was a small wooden 
house, which was at one time occupied by the Rev. 
Mr. Woodruff, who preached at the First Church, and 
this house was afterward replaced by the dwelling 
where Mr. George Ratlibun lived for many years. 
Next below was a small house occupied by Wm. 
Brown, often called Bisop Brown, who afterward 
moved to the house on the corner of Genesee and 
Court streets. This house was afterwards sold to the 
Underwoods, and it is one of the few houses on Gene- 
see street, which has stood unchanged for fifty years. 
Mr. Brown was a tall, handsome man, a leading law- 
yer, and an accomplished musician, while Mr, Under- 
wood needs no description at my hands. On the site 
of Senator Pomeroy's residence was a house occu- 
pied by one Mr. Hall, of whom my recollections are 
indistinct ; and the woods whicli I have mentioned be- 
fore extended from this point over the hill to Mr. Gar- 
row' s. 

The business part of the town was quite unpretend- 
ina-. The Bank Cott'ee House stood about where Mr. 



EAilLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 81 

Van Laer's music store is now located, * and was kept 
by one John Bacon. This was Auburn's most cele- 
brated restaurant, and had a large dining room on the 
first floor, on a level with the street, while the second 
story was divided into small rooms occupied by many 
of our young merchants. This was a very stylish 
place, and held about the same relation to Auburn as 
the Osborne House of the present day. Then came 
Miss Cornell's millinery shop, and next beyond, on 
the corner of State street stood a small grocery store, 
kept by the father of Col. Wm. H. Carpenter. State 
street was then the narrow, muddy lane so grax^hically 
described by Mr. Hall, in his "History of Auburn,'' 
with rail fences on either side. I have often been 
dowai there to the swamp, and have climbed along on 
the fence rather than venture in the muddy path. 
Even after the jDrison was built in 1817, it was a peril- 
ous journey to it by the way of State street. Below 
State street on Genesee, were the stores of Messrs. 
Fitch, Porter and Beach, and about opposite Exchange 
street in a pleasant, large garden stood the dwelling 
of Reuben Porter, afterward occupied by Dr. Burt. 
The Porters were New England people, and they fol- 
lowed the custom of keeping Saturday night, while on 
Sunday evenings they knit or sewed, and pursued oth- 
er week day avocations ; and so did Col. Hulbert's 
family, who afterward lived in the same house. It 
Avas a large, two-storied structure, and one of our fa- 
vorite visiting places. The configuration of Genesee 
street has been much changed since that time, for 
there was a great hill at the corner of North street, 
which was cut away in 1827 to the depth of twelve 
feet, and the ravine near St. Peter's Church was then 

* Now No. 133 Genesee street. 



82 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

filled up here. At the time of which I write, however, 
these changes had iiot been made, 80 the stores of Ele- 
azer and Horace Hills, on the corner of Genesee and 
North streets, were on level ground. Afterward they 
were reached by a flight of steps from the sidewalk, 
and stood in this position for many years. 

The Bostwick Tavern was rather larger and better 
than the others in town. It had a finer ballroom, and 
two piazzas, one on each story, Avhile the others had 
but one, belonging to the first story. The upper piaz- 
za had no roof over it, and it was not until it was re- 
modeled and converted into the Exchange hotel, that 
the upper rooms were added, and the roof brought 
forward over the steps. Where General Seward's 
Banking House is now situated, was Mr. Archy Kas- 
son's store, facing on Exchange street, and he lived in 
the second story of the same building with his family. 
Then followed the Irwin or Maxwell tavern, and di- 
rectly opposite, between Mr. Porter's house and the 
Hills' store, was a small store kej^t by one Mr. Hazen. 
He was a bachelor of rather fixed notions, and he used 
to keep for sale the glass beads, which we as children 
so highly j)rized. Of course he could not always re- 
IDlace his stock at short notice, and he occasionally re- 
fused to sell us a string of red or blue beads, saying- 
it was the last string he had, of that shade, and he 
did not wish to break liis assortment. Where Mr. 
Sutton now has his drug store, was a little watch shop 
kej)t by Peter Fields, and near by Mr. Guernsey had 
a saddlery and harness slioi^. Robert Muir's store 
was about on the site of the Exchange Bank, and we 
always went there to purchase our nuts and raisins as 
he gave such excellent measure. Indeed he often 
gave us our raisins and then handed us back our pen- 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 83 

ny that we might come again. The Post Oifice was 
kept in a little wooden structure where the Cayuga 
Connty Bank is situated, and Dr. Crosset was our first 
post- master, but a millinery shop occupied a greate 
portion of the building. Where Mrs. Morgan now 
resides was the dwellijig of David Hyde, and below it, 
next to the Baptist Church, stands the house where 
David Horner lived for many years, and which was 
afterward occupied by Colonel Sherwood. The church 
had not yet been built, and about on its site was a lit- 
tle white house occupied by the Patty family, and in 
which most of the children were born. 

The Patty tannery stood back a little from the street 
and was reached through the lane which is now Me- 
chanic street. From the bridge there was an uninter- 
rupted view up and down the stream, and I have often 
joined the crowds which gathered upon it on such Sun- 
day afternoons as the Baptists immersed their converts 
in the creek. The immersion generally took j)lace about 
two o'clock, in a pool, which is I should think, now cov- 
ered by the Coventry tobacco factory. The largest at- 
tendance, I recollect, was on the occasion of the baptism 
of Mr. Garrow by Elder Blaine. Mr. Garrow was a very 
large, tall man while Mr. Blaine was rather slight and 
delicate. It was evidently feared that there might be 
some difficulty for these reasons, in bringing Mr. Gar- 
row to the surface after he had been once under the wa- 
ter, for he had tied around his waist a large, strong, red 
silk handkerchief in order that the Elder might have 
something firm to hold on by. It of course had a very 
singular effect over his black baptismal robe, but the cer- 
emony went off without accident. I once saw an im- 
mersion there, when they were obliged to break the ice 
before they entered the water. The Center House on the 



84 EAELY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

point at Market street, the Demaree tavern, where is 
now the National and the Stone Mill are the onlyx)ronii- 
nent buildings which I recall in this quarter of the town. 
Mr. Horace Hills lived in a large frame house on North 
street, where Walker' s market now stands, and it was 
the first house I ever saw with inside blinds. The 
house, I believe, has been moved back, and is still 
standing behind the brick block of stores. Just op- 
posite was Mr. Oliphant' s tailor shop, in the old brick 
building so long occupied by Mr. Alexander, the shoe- 
maker. The family lived up stairs over the shop be- 
fore they moved to their William street house in later 
years. Mr. Oliphant always declared that he had once 
made a pair of breeches for George III, before he 
came from London, and whether he had or not, he 
called himself " breeches maker to the King." Ly- 
man Paine lived in a small house near the stream, and 
I often went there to see his daughters Mary Ann, 
Sally, Huldah and Fanny. Old Major Cumpson 
lived then in a wooden house directly where our Town 
Hall now stands, and in front of it was a long green 
sward extending to North street. This was a little in 
front of the Hardenburg house, which stood nearly on 
the site of the i^resent residence. I frequently went 
to the Hardenburg' s during my childhood after the 
Colonel's death. The family then consisted of his 
widow and two children, John and Maria. The latter 
died in early life. Mrs. Hardenburg was a woman, 
of agreeable manners, tall and angular, and was very 
much beloved by the children of the village, who called 
her Auntie Hardenburg. She usually sat in the chimney 
corner and smoked her pipe after each meal, and took 
snuff constantly. She took her pipe with her when 
she went out socially among her neighbors, and she 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN". 85 

wore one of the large poke bonnets which were com- 
monly seen in my early days. The house was a large 
wooden structure with a huge chimney which would 
hold and burn wood cut six feet long, and in which 
you could stand and look directly up to the sky. It 
had double swinging doors, which opened directly in- 
to the living room, and there was a great well sweep 
in the yard behind it. I recollect Mr. John Harden- 
burg as a young man very distinctly, and that when 
the Academy burned down in 1817 he was sleeping in 
the building, and only saved his life by jumping from 
the second story window. I saw the flames and the 
light of the fire from our house on the hill. 

On the site of Mr. Osborne's residence on the corner 
of North and Seminary streets, was the Estes tannery. 
I have frequently been there, crossing the stream by a 
foot bridge on State street. South street was not 
much built upon as yet. On the ground now occupied 
by Mr. Harmon Woodrufl:"s residence there stood a 
small wooden school house, in which I once attended 
school for a short time, being taught by Mr. Conrad 
Ten Eyck. Opposite was a long, low, wooden house 
on the site of the present Universalist Church, which 
was for many years occupied by Colonel Hulbert's 
family after they left the old Porter house on Genesee 
street. The house was a roomy and pleasant, though 
unpretending dwelling, and it was here I saw in after 
years the first piano ever brought to Auburn. Col. 
Hulbert's daughter had been at school at Pittsfield, 
and had learned music, so he bought her the piano on 
her return home. It had eight spindle legs with brass 
castors, and it was considered a very massive and 
elaborate instrument. At the time of which I write, 
however, pianos liad not been thought of here. Be- 



86 EAELY LIFE IN AUBUEN. 

yond this house on South street were fields and woods, 
and it was many years before tlie street was levelled 
or much built upon. A lane ran where School street 
now extends, and Lincoln and Cumpson street had 
not been opened. About where Mr. Nelson's lumber 
yard is located stood Samuel Cumpson' s spacious res- 
idence surrounded by a beautiful flower garden, and 
the lane continued past it, reaching South street near 
the site of the Second church. The distillery was 
near by, and the family, I recollect, depended for 
their supi:)ly of drinking water on the large spring, 
which is still flowing in the grounds of Mr. Henry 
Koster's house on Lincoln street. 

Of course, as time rolled on. Auburn improved, and 
the manners and customs of the people became less 
primitive. My father's land was gradually sold, and 
many new people came in. The stages began to run 
with regularity, and the houses, fences and sidewalks 
became better. Immigration was very large, and for 
years it was no infrequent sight to see a family mov- 
ing West through the town with four or five loads of 
household goods in large canvas covered wagons. I 
have seen the statement in "Hall's Travels in Ameri- 
ca," published in 1816, that in the year previous six- 
teen thousand of these wagons passed over the bridge 
at Cayuga, and I should not think it exaggerated. 
You might, however, think I was drawing on my im- 
agination if I should attempt to give you an idea of 
the mud which prevailed here at .any other season 
than midwinter or summer. When in 1832 I lived in 
the house since occupied by Gen. Chedell, we had on- 
ly a single plank for a sidewalk and were glad to avail 
ourselves of the help of the rail fence. South street 
even at this day was so little built upon, that I could 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 87 

sit at my side window and see the congregation dis- 
tinctly as tliey ascended or descended the steps of the 
Second Church, 

A great feature in our early days were ' ' general 
trainings'' when the county militia disported itself for 
several hours on the Court House green and on Gene- 
see street. These festivals were usually under the 
charge of Dr. Hurd of Scipio, who was very fond of 
such entertainments, and it was principally owing to 
his influence that they were not abandoned long before 
they were. The troops were some on horseback, some 
on foot, and I think there were a few small cannon 
Avhich figured in the procession as it marched and 
counter-marched on Genesee street. Our friend, Mr. 
Marshall, always appeared with a cart of ginger bread 
and beer, early in the morning, and sold his stock 
with fearful rapidity. The Masonic Fraternity flour- 
ished also at this time, and David Horner, who was 
head of the Order, gave much of his time and atten- 
tion to their meetings. He was the Grand Master, I 
think, at all events, he was very often called " King 
David." The lodge room was on Genesee street, near 
the present Cayuga County Bank, and after each 
meeting the lamps M^ere carried across the street to 
Mrs. Horner's to be filled and cleaned. We some- 
times availed ourselves of the fact that the lodge door 
was open at these times and went over to look at the 
velvet regalia and other wonderful things said to be 
there. I do not recall, however, that we ever saw any- 
thing very remarkable, and I think that in late years 
I have heard the statement that in Masonry the reali- 
ties did not always equal one's anticipations. 

Every one drank bitters in these days, and I have 
seen mv uncles and other relatives take them with 



88 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

tansy before breakfast, in the morning. The practice 
was universal, but I never recollect seeing more than 
one or two men intoxicated. One of thes3 was one of 
my Uncle Samnel Dill's hired men, who went down 
town from the Mount House one St. Patrick's day, 
and came home in a very deplorable condition. Al- 
though he was an Irishman between forty and fifty 
years of age, my uncle took his horse whii^, and gave 
him a sound thrashing. I sat on the cellar stairs and 
saw him do it, and the man had apparently no idea 
but that it was entirely the correct thing. Reuben 
Swift, who lived on South street, on the corner of the 
l^resent Swift street, as you know, was a confirmed 
drunkard, and seldom went home sober. In my early 
days tracts were distributed by the temperance peo- 
ple, detailing the evils of drunkenness, and dwelling 
particularly on the danger of spontaneous combustion 
after a long indulgence in strong liquors, and we chil- 
dren have watched Mr. Swift often and often, wonder- 
ing if we should ever see the flames issuing from his 
mouth as he went reeling home. 

In 1820 ray mother died and her funeral sermon was 
l^reached by Dr. Lansing at the First Church. Short- 
ly after, it was thought best to send my sister Jane 
and me to boarding school, and we were accordingly 
transported to the seminary kept by Uncle Caleb Mc- 
Keel at Skaneateles. This was a celebrated and pop- 
ular Quaker school, and we remained there two years. 
I took with me my papered trunk made by Mr, Ter- 
ry, and beside my other apparel it contained two 
dresses, which were thought at the time an abundant 
supply for any school girl. We had also a stock of 
colored cotton pocket handkerchiefs, and a few linen 
ones made from our own fiax and spun at home. The 



EAELY LIFE IN AUBURN. 89 

school was an excellent one, and it was conducted by- 
Mr. McKeel as principal, assisted by Mrs. Lydia P. 
Mott and Miss Sarali Underliill. I have my certificate 
signed by each of thera dated in 1823. There were 
forty scholars, and we slept in one large room over the 
school room in twenty beds. This room was warmed 
only by the pij^e from the large wood stove in the 
school room, and as the fire usually went out in the 
night time, by morning we were comfortably cool. 
We had one wash stand, and one looking glass, and 
we made our own beds, as was the universal custom at 
country boarding schools. The fare was rather indif- 
ferent. We had a great deal of codfish, and once a 
week mush and molasses. Still we learned a great 
deal and enjoyed our life there. Mr. McKeel was a 
bachelor and very fond of visiting, so that we had 
very many pleasant rides in winter and summer. He 
would occasionally bring us to Auburn for a few hours, 
and once he took us to Scipio to be present at the mar- 
riage of the two daughters of Jethro Wood. They 
were married at the same time in the Quaker meeting 
house, and a great crowd of Quakers were in attend- 
ance, many of which after the usual quiet ceremony 
signed the marriage certificate. 

Our Quaker meetings at Skaneateles were always 
held on Thursday mornings, and we were all obliged 
to be present, but on Sundays we were allowed to at- 
tend the Episcopal services in the village church, con- 
ducted by the rector, Mr. Converse. As our Quaker 
meetings were usually of the silent kind, my sister 
Jane and I took the opj^ortunity to learn our Bible les- 
son for the next Sunday. Miss Julia Legg used to 
come and take us to j)ass the Sabbath at her mother's 
in the village, and you can imagine how pleasant the 



90 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

change was from the school discipline to the liberty of 
a village family who lived so delightfully as the Leggs. 
We were very fond of Mrs. Mott, the assistant i)rinci- 
pal. She was a celebrated Quaker preacher, who went 
often to quarterly meeting, where she i)reached with 
great acceptance. Of course when she returned we were 
always very eager to see her, and like all school girls 
to obtain her first kiss. She had a son Arthur who 
was aware of this fact, and one day about the hour of 
his mother s expected return, he dressed himself in 
her clothes, and wrapping himself up somewhat, 
walked slowly to the door from the front gate. We 
rushed out as usual and about a dozen of us kissed 
him before we discovered the deception. I undertook 
one day to decorate myself ))y curling my hair, and 
accordingly began by decorating it with two knobs 
over my forehead, securing it with pins. I ran down 
stairs to meet Mrs. Mott, as she came in, when taking 
my face between her hands, she said, " Why, Debby, 
has thee got horns a growing V I never see a curl to 
this day, that I do not recall her words, and my mor- 
tification. On Saturdays, we all went to the school 
room, and darned our stockings, or mended any rents 
which we found in our dresses. The Quakers were 
very particular in the matter of needle work, and if a 
dress of two or more colors was to be mended, we 
were obliged to have an equal number of colored 
threads, and to match the figures exactly. We made 
a great many little needle books and pin balls, and 
were taught to stitch them very neatly. Among oth- 
er accomplishments, I learned to play whist at this 
school, although it was not one of the regular studies. 
I was active and vigorous at this time, and after I re- 
turned home used often to lide over on horseback to 



EAELY LIFE IN AUBURN. 91 

visit the school, and back in the same afternoon. 
Once I walked over and back in the same day, and 
once with a party of girls I walked to Cayuga and 
back. 

After onr return from school, we continued to live in 
the Mount House with my Uncle Samuel, until he mov- 
ed to Camillus ; and after that time with my sister Car- 
oline, who had recently married John Hulbert. After 
my marriage it was sold to Abijah Fitch, and having 
changed owners several times, it was finally used as ii 
young ladies' seminary, until it was destroyed by fire 
in 1849. I soon began to enjoy the delights of society 
and I recall with pleasure our frequent sleighing par- 
ties, when we drove to Elbridgv, Skaneateles, Cayuga 
or Seneca Falls, very much as do the young j)eoi)le of 
the present day. We commonly started in the after- 
noon, or early in the evening, and would after reach- 
ing Seneca Falls or Cayuga, ordei' supper at a tavern, 
drive on for a ways, and return about the time it 
would be ready for us. We occasionally had oysters, 
and before each person at the table was a chafing dish, 
in which they were cooked to suit each individual 
taste. Once we took a dinner box from a sleigh which 
was before a tavern door at Cayuga, as we i)assed. At 
this time travellers were obliged to carry their own 
provisions when making long journeys, and a "camp 
chest," or as we called it a "dinner box" was a neces- 
sity. Once we drove to Syracuse, starting early in 
the day, and arriving there in time for dinner at one 
o'clock, taking suj)per at Elbridge on our return. 
This we only accomplished by liaving relays of horses 
at several points on the road. We did not consider it 
improper, if we were chilly, to stop at a tavern door 
and drink some brandy, with sugar, although we 



92 EARLY LIFE IN AUBUBN. 

usually called for bread and milk. The tavern keep- 
ers knew by experience what we wished for. Our 
balls, too, were very enjoyable. They commenced 
usually, at six o'clock in the afternoon, and lasted 
until two o'clock in the morning, except on extraor- 
dinary occasions, like our elaborate Fourth of July 
balls, when Ave stayed until dawn. They were held in 
the ball room of the Bostwick, Glover or Goodrich 
tavern, and the tickets were printed on small bits of 
jiaper, some of which I have kept to this day. We 
danced "MonieMusk," "Scotch Reels," and a figure 
called " French Four," which I believe is now ex- 
tinct. The music was generally made by one violin, 
and the illumination by means of candles hung round 
the walls of the room in candlesticks. At twelve 
o'clock we had supper, and all sat down to a long ta- 
ble in the dining room. Roast chickens and turkeys 
were standard dishes, and after six hours of dancing 
something substantial was very refreshing. Our ball 
dresses were white muslin over black silk skirts, and 
we had one breadth for the front, another for the back, 
with a gore on each side, while the young gentlemen 
usually wore swallow tailed coats, rather short trous- 
ers, and vests cut square across at the bottom. At the 
commencement of a ball, we usually waited in the 
dressing room until the dancers were all assembled, 
when we walked into the ball room with our partners 
to the music of a march played on the one violin. 

The young people whom I best recollect, were Jo- 
sephine Finn, Mary and Cornelia Pitney, Eliza Bene- 
dict, Mary Seymour, Huldah Paine, Fannie Paine, 
Eliza Pease, Mary Ann and Eliza Horner, Whitfield 
Hatch, John Garrow, Levi Lundy, John Bird, George 
Jaycox, Butler Sheldon, M. S. Myers, Michael Foote, 



EARLY LIFE IN ATJBURlSr. 93 

Richard Paine, James Horner and Isaac S. Allen. 
The latter was a great beau in those days, an excellent 
dancer, and very gallant. I recollect that once Col. Hul- 
bert and his wife were called to Rochester by the 
death of a relative, so that with the house all to our- 
selves, we sat up all night with the Hulbert girls and 
sewed on the dresses which we wished to wear on the 
next evening. 

About 1824, my sister and I were sent to boarding 
school at Ballston, a place which then had as much 
reputation as Saratoga has now — in fact, Saratoga was 
a little place of entertainment, to which we occasion- 
ally drove, never thinking that it could eclipse Balls- 
ton with its tremendous summer hotels and throngs of 
visitors. My brother John usually went with us dur- 
ing the long stage ride of three days and two nights 
from Auburn to Schenectady. After the opening of 
tlie canal we used sometimes to go to Syracuse by 
stage, thence to Utica by canal, and then to Ballston 
by stage again. The roads were still very wretched 
and we were often obliged to get out and wait by the 
road side while the driver and j)assengers pried the 
wheels out of the ruts with rails from the nearest 
fence. 

Sometime before I went to Ballston the military 
funeral of General Fleming took place in 1823. It 
was a great event for Auburn and it was attended by 
an enormous crowd of people from all parts of the 
country. The militia marched with reversed arms, 
and the General' s horse with all his military accoutre- 
ments, was led in the procession by one of his colored 
body servants. The body was brought to town in a 
wagon and taken to St. Peter's church, where appro- 
priate services were held, after which it was placed on 



94 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

a bier, and carried to the North Street Cemetery, 
where the usual salute was fired over the grave. 
Hearses were not heard of in Auburn in 1823, nor for 
some time thereafter, and I think that the lirst one 
ever used here was brought by the Richardsons in 
1835. The u»e of biers was universal, and when my 
first daughter died, she was carried from the house, 
now occupied by Mr. S. L. Bradley, to St. Peter's 
Church yard in this manner. 

On June 1st, 1825, Lafayette made his celebrated 
visit to Auburn. Great preparations were made for 
it, and on the morning of his arrival, guns were fired 
in order that the people in the surrounding towns 
might know of it, and come to Auburn to see him. 
Arches were erected and decorated with evergreens on 
Genesee street, and there was a very large one near us 
on the hill. He was met at Cayuga by a large delega- 
tion from town, and he entered riding in a coach 
drawn by six horses, accompanied by Governor 
Throop, Judge Richardson, and my uncle John Dill. 
The latter had served with him in the army, and had 
known him intimately, as had Major VanValkenburg 
who came over from Skaneateles to meet him. The 
procession drove to the Exchange hotel, and my sister 
and I were there with Mrs. Seward on the upper balco- 
ny. After a time he came to the l)all room and shook 
hands with each one of us as we stood around the walls 
of the room. We all said " Welcome Lafayette," and 
I can recall his apx^earance as distinctly as if he stood 
before me at this moment. In the evening there was a 
grand "Lafayette Ball," which my older sister and 
brother attended, but to which I did not go. In 1827, 
however, I attended a ball and met for the first time 
Mr. George H. Wood, whom I afterward married. It 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 95 

was customary at tliis time at all balls, to have a room 
for card playing, and we played whist the entire even- 
ing against Eliza Horner and Consider Carter. The 
latter was a young man employed by the Sherwoods 
in their stage office. He was a very agreeable and ca- 
pable person and much attached to Miss Horner, to 
whom he offered himself unsuccessfully several times. 

When I was married on the 14th day of May, 1829, 
the peach and apple trees were all in bloom, and the 
stage in which we went on our wedding journey was 
trimmed with the boughs from these trees and tlo^^ ers. 
We were married in St. Peter's Church by Dr. Rudd 
at eleven in the morning, and my brother John and 
Miss Worden were married at the same time. We 
engaged a stage for the trip and drove to Buffalo, the 
same driver going and returning witli us, cliauging 
horses only at the usual stations. Eliza Horner, 
Amanda Worden and my sister Jane went with us, 
making just a coach full. We stopped at Canandai- 
gua and Rochester, and at Lockport to examine the 
locks, which were great curiosities in those days. We 
eventually arrived at Buffalo, and were gone from 
Auburn just two weeks. 

Buffalo has changed very much in fifty years. 
There was no Delaware Avenue then, and where are 
now the largest stores and warehouses, was a cemete- 
ry. While at Buffalo, we went to the old theatre to 
see Charlotte Cushman j)lay "Cinderella, or the Lit- 
tle Glass Slipj)er." I saw her frequently in New 
York in later years at the Bowery Theatre. She was 
playing there when it was rebuilt in 1828, after it was 
burned, and I saw her the first night that the new 
theatre was opened. 

The American hotel was opened on New Year's day. 



96 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

1880, by Thomas Noyes, and I took tea there, the 
tirst meal, dinner, havinu: been c:iven to a party of 
gentlemen. Mr. and ^Iis. Noyes were New England 
people, and they kept the hotel so acceptably that it 
soon became famous. Mrs. Noyes always sat at the 
head of the table and poured the tea or cotfee for all the 
guests, ajid my seat was directly next hers. The patron- 
age was so much greater than was anticipated that I 
was often obliged to assist her in making sheets and 
counterpanes, as the stock she brought from the East 
was far too small. We had twelve stages daily, and 
the sttige office was under the front piazza, in the base- 
ment, at the right side ; and it was usually occupied 
by ^filton ami John Sherwood, who sat there in their 
broad-cloth coats and ru tiled shirt bosoms, and man- 
aged the att'airs of their celebrated ''Telegraph Line" 
of stage coaches. This was about the time of Au- 
burn's greatest prosperity, which as you know reached 
its climax in 188(3 and 1887. The passenger traffic 
was enormous, and when the cars first came to Au- 
burn in 1888, I was again at the American, whose 
l>opularity had not waned. 

The Railroad was laid up Franklin street from the 
station near the prison to the livery stable now occu- 
pied by Mr. Doan, and those passengers who chose to 
do so, got off at the prison station, while others pre- 
ferred to ride to the terminus. The tirst cars were 
very small. They had doors at the side like a coach, 
and two seats facing each other, with places for six 
passengers in each car. There were usually three cars 
in a train and we were drawn by horses to and from 
Syracuse. It was at the latter place I tirst saw a lo- 
comotive, sometime before one had been brought 
heiv. After the cars had begun to run with regulari- 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 97 

ty the Auburn House was built, and being near the 
railroad, it soon became a popular resort, as passen- 
gers could get off at its door. Auburn had now ceased 
to be a country village, and was noted for the ability 
of its lawyers, its promising water-power and its 
social advantages. The Pattys, Burts, Olmsteds, 
Horners, Compstons, Hughes and Stevensons began 
to disperse and their successors entertained very 
many strangers and celebrities who came here as tlie 
means of access became less arduous. Judge Miller, 
Judge Richardson, Christopher Morgan and Secretary 
Seward had many visitors, and I have met here at 
various times Silas Wright, Martin and John Van- 
Buren, Thurlow Weed, Daniel Webster and Henry 
Clay. 

In 1836, we built the house now occuj^ied by Mr. 
Tlieo P. Case, and while it was being completed Dan- 
iel Webster was here. He was so much pleased with 
it that we had the plans duplicated and sent them to 
him. In 1839, Henry Clay was on one of his custom- 
ary political tours through the country, and he came 
to Auburn from Canandaigua, attending a supper 
given for him at the American hotel. He called on 
me in the morning before leaving for Syracuse at 
noon, and as he was at the time very much interested 
in house building, he examined ours very thoroughly. 
Mr. Casey again drew the plans, and we sent them to 
him as we had Mr. Webster. Mr. Clay's pleasing 
manner and wonderful conversational powers strength- 
ened the devotion of his many political friends here, 
most of whom then saw him for the first time. 

There are many things I should like to mention, l)ut 
I cannot venture to trespass too far on your good na- 
ture. As we sat at tea one evening in f 832, an alarm 



98 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

of fire was given, and following our usual custom, 
every one in the village rushed to the street. It 
turned out to be the fire which destroyed St. Peter* s 
Church, and when I arrived on the ground, the streets 
were filled with people, who stood and watched the 
fire as it slowly consumed the enormous timbers of the 
Church. We saw the spire fall at last with a great 
crash. I do not recollect whether at this time our 
fire engine was used or not, but at the first fire in the 
prison in 1820, the water was all passed from hand to 
hand from the creek to the prison doors in our leather 
buckets. Every family in the village had several of 
these, numbered and marked with the owners' name. 
We had six marked "S. Dill." 

In this same year there was a profound revival at 
the Methodist Church, and I find noted in Mr. Wood' s 
journal the fact that Amos Underwood and General 
Chedell were much excited and took their places on 
the "anxious seat." 

I am conscious that I have written much which may 
seem to you trivial, and of little interest to any one 
save myself, but I cannot otherwise give you an idea 
of our life in Auburn in its early days. The events 
which I have noted seemed to us at the time of great 
importance, and perhaps you should after all, expect 
from me nothing very different from what I have 
written. 

I have only alluded incidentally to David Horner, 
whose picture before me, and his public spirit, his 
desire for the education of the young, and his fine 
literary taste, deserve something more than this. He 
had a library, which would be valuable even now, and 
we wonder that in this remote region, that he could 
have kept pace with the literary events of the world 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 



99 



as he did. His time and money were freely rendered 
whenever any public or educational measure came up, 
and while he lived without pretension or extrava- 
gance, he was one of the men most looked up to in my 
childhood. The Cumpston' s also, Samuel and Egbert, 
were foremost in all affairs of the village, and did 
much to make our lives pleasant. The Flemings who 
were prominent, not only here but in Newburg, before 
they came to Cayuga county, lived in Scipio, in a 
manner remarkable for hospitality and ceremony. 
They had six hundred acres of land there, besides 
other large tracts in adioining towns, and they enter- 
tained handsomely at their " seat," as their home was 
called in the published notices of the General's death. 
In the inventory of his estate, there were wines and 
liquors enough for the largest landholder in Virginia. 



REMINISCENCES OF MY EARLY LIFE 
IN AUBURN. 



A Paper read before the Cayuga County Historical Society, 
January nth, 1881. 

BY MRS. S. BENTON HUNT. 



REMINISCENCES OF MY EARLY LIFE 
IN AUBURN. 



My maiden name was Aziiba Terry. I was born at 
Anbiirn in 1810. 

My father, Abel Terry, was the fourth son of Sha- 
dracli Terry, of Enfield, Connecticut, — a. citizen of 
exemplary character, and a farmer of considerable 
importance. 

At the early age of 21 my father married Louisa 
Chapin, also of Enheld. He had a family of four 
children. The sudden death of my grandmother 
made it necessary to sell the farm, in order to give 
to the several heirs the due proportion of his estate. 
My father, during his life, made it a rule to bring 
each one of his sons to a "calling" or certain occupa- 
sion, by which in after life he could support himself. 
Thus it trans^nred that his oldest son, my Uncle Al- 
vah, became a wonderful scholar in his native town, 
giving his attention to navigation, trigonometry, alge- 
bra and mathematics, shuttiag himself within his 
small chamber, furnished with the severity of a mo- 
nastic cell. Surrounded by his precious books, 
utterly ignoring every sight and sound of the busy 
farm life around him, dreaming, perhaps, oft-times of 
wealth and fame as the result of his scholastic 
labor, time sped on. 



104 EARLY LIFE IN AUBUUN. 

One day he was missed from liis accustomed seat at 
the table ; liis mother and sister called from room to 
room for Alvali ! But there never came response. 
His brother advertised in a Hartford newsi)aper, de- 
siring information of his whereabouts, and describing 
his person. All that was ever learned of him was that 
a young man answering to the description of his per- 
son embarked in a sailing vessel at Boston, bound for 
the Mediterranean sea, and as the vessel was richly 
laden, and as there were at this early period of our 
history many piratical ships afloat in that distant 
region, my grandparents concluded that they had 
been captured by Algerine desperadoes or pirates. 

The next serious change in the domestic circle of 
my widowed grandmother was the dejiarture of my 
Uncles Shadrach and Apollos, the eldest and youngest 
of the brothers, for the then "far west." Both set- 
tled in Auburn, or Aurelius, as it was then called. 
Two years later my father and mother and their four 
children, viz.: Hannah, Alvah, after the truant broth- 
er, Louisa and Lucien, together with my grandmoth- 
er and maiden sister of my father's, entered into the 
little, but aspiring village of Auburn, being about 
the period of 1804. The families at this time were 
few and far between, but were closely united by chris- 
tian fellowship and sympathy. "Auburn! Sweet 
Auburn, loveliest village of the plain," was a refrain 
often repeated by different members of my family in 
my childhood as a convincing proof of their fondness 
for their home in the west. 

Mr. Shadrach Terry, father of Mrs. Oscar F, Knapp, 
pursued at this time the business of wagon and plough 
making, while my Uncle Apollos found employment 
as a farmer during the summer and as school-master 



EAELY LIFE IN AUBUEN. 105 

in the winter. As 1 have before observed, my grand- 
father bronglit the entire talents of his sons to bear 
ui^on liis farm in Enliekl. And as a smith' s forge was 
an imperative necessity npon the farm, he bnilt a 
slioi^ npon his j^remises, and there my father spent 
mnch of liis time in maldng and rejiairing farm uten- 
sils. Upon making nj) his mind to marry he decided 
to follow the forge instead of the farm. And old 
Anbnrn never knew a more ingenious mechanic, nor a 
more industrious man than he ! He was as strong as 
the metal he worked in, as true, too, as steel, yet mal- 
leable withal to all good x)i^il)oses and intlnences. He 
loved reading and spent every hour of his leisure in 
pursuing the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, which books I 
will here mention were lent l)y him by his intimate 
friend, Mr. John D. Cray. He had Lavater's and 
Rochefoucauld' s Maxims at his tongue' s end, Seneca' s 
Morals, Plutarch's Lives of the Ancients, Goldsmith's 
Citizen of the World, and the works of Mrs. Hannah 
More, also, those of Mrs. Chapone, Zimmerman on 
Solitude, Ossian's poems, Esop's Fables and Gulli- 
ver's Travels. For his danghter he bought Mark 
Akenside's poems, Scott's Lady of the Lake, and 
Young's Night Thoughts. But he was much opposed 
to the reading of fiction. Lord Chesteriield' s letters 
were much esteemed by him. He showed his taste in 
dress by wearing the best broadcloth (black), and the 
finest boots which were made in Auburn, and by 
dressing on Sundays in a ruffled shirt — washed, ironed 
and plaited by my eldest sister Hannah. 

Three children were born to my father and mother 
after they settled in Auburn : my brother, Mr. Owen 
Terry ; another brother, who was named Orpheus, who 
died young, and myself in 1810. Alas ! The terrible 



106 EARLY LIFE IN AUBUEN. 

fevers common to all newly oi:>ened countries, and the 
cares of a large family now began to tell npon the 
constitution of my devoted mother. Having nursed 
my eldest biothei* Alva through a course of typhoid 
fever and seeing a favorable turning or crisis of the 
same, she realized a few hours' relief, and sought the 
repose so long denied to a watchful mother, when she 
was overtaken by the symptoms of premature labor. 
Meantime my brother who had risen from bed and 
exposed himself to the dangers of taking cold and 
various imprudences of diet, suffered a rela2:)se and 
died after two days' illness. Oh ! this unhappy event. 
My suffering mother knew nothing. To her question 
of "How is Alvah ^" the reply was "All is well." 
Her strength had been spent for others, she was re- 
signed to death. She expired in giving birth to a si- 
lent child. She being only thirty-six years old, and 
this her eighth child. 

So there were three lying dead in one house ! How 
many times in after life, while sitting on my father' s 
knee, I have listened to the heart-rending recital of 
his trouble at this period of his married life. 

I was then only eighteen months old, and I know 
all these events only by hearsay. 

My father never married again, and I have no recol- 
lection of a mother's tender care. My grandmother, 
my fathers maiden sister. Aunt Stella, and my sister 
Hannah, nearly twelve years old, assumed all the du- 
ties of housekeeping for my father. 

And now I have fairly arrived at my earliest recol- 
lections of my Auburn life. We lived at this time 
very near to the first Episcox^al Church built in Au- 
burn, St. Peter's. 

I was about six years old when I remember going 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 107 

there on Saturday afternoons to recite my catecliism 
to the Rev. Wm. Henry Northrop, a clergyman of 
great piety, quite young, and of delicate and refined 
organization. I think he was a Carolinian by birtli. 
At any rate, the rigor of our northern winters soon 
undermined his health, and he was forced to resign 
his parish and return to his native place, wliere he 
died, giving evidence of ''the peace which passeth 
•understanding" and joy in our Lord and Master. So 
reads the record kept by my oldest sister, Hannah, 
one of the youngest communicants of the old St. Pe- 
ter's Church. 

At this period my sister and Miss Polly Bostwick 
were the chief lady singers in the church choir, of 
which Mr. Wm. Bostwick' s son was the leader, and a 
grand bass voice had he ! It was sufficient to arouse 
the " seven sleepers of old" to hear him pour out his 
soul in song to the tune of Old Hundred. He used a 
tuning fork in setting the air, and once upon a time, 
having selected an air to suit the measure of the hymn 
propounded by the minister, he rose to name the air 
he had chosen, as was his wont, and in his most 
stentorian tone exclaimed BRAY ! at which announce- 
ment there was a visible smile all over the face of the 
usually decorous congregation. How these matters 
stick in one's memory when matters of moment lie 
buried under heaps of sober human experience ! 

In order to give my earliest recollections of the 
community in which we lived during my childhood, I 
must refer once more to the great grief which befel 
my father in the loss of my mother and two of her 
children. 

Although I was too young to be personally cogni- 
zant of the kind offices of our immediate neighbors, 



108 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

tlie story of their ready help, and the sweet influence 
of their symj)athy and devoted service, was so often 
related in my presence, and with so much real pathos 
and gratitude by every member of my family, that 
today those names stand out in bold relief upon the 
leaflets of my memory. Among those were the names 
of Mr. and Mrs. Bostwick, the family of Stephen and 
Hugh Hughes, the names of Esq. and Mrs. Wm. 
Brown, and Dr. Hackaliah and Mrs. Burt. These 
persons were present at my mother's funeral. The 
officiating clergyman was the Rev. Wm. Clark. 

A little later (j^terhai^s I may have been Ave years 
old) I remember being called in by Mrs. Brown fre- 
quently, and being j^atted on my head, she would sigh 
and exclaim, "My poor motherless child," and with 
many gentle words and caresses, she would soothe my 
half-orphan heart, giving me also a bit of delicate 
cake, api3les, doughnuts or gingerbread. 

And here I must mention the toothsome dainties 
afforded me by my little friends, Jane and Betsey 
Maria Bostwick. Mrs. Bostwick as far back as I can 
remember had two slaves in her household, Sybil and 
Eleven, her husband. Now Sybil was a superior cook 
and she knew it. Oh, the pies and preserves and 
pickles made by those faithful old ebony hands. 
"What a cook!" Sybil was wont to say, "Ef I du 
say it is wittles fit for a guv'ner to eat ! " And it was 
a fact that nobody denied. 

One of Sybil's sons lived with Esq. Garrow, one of 
the magnates of Auburn. The boy's name was 
George, a great wag and about as full of darkie 
pranks as any one the race ever produced. Whenever 
a country fellow presented himself from Owasco or 
Cayuga, asking " ef the Square was to hum V George 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 109 

would reply, "To be shore. It hangs up in the wood 
house." Another of Sybil' s children, Flora by name, 
lived with Mrs. Enos T. Tliroop. Flora died young of 
hasty consumption. 

Sj)eaking of Mrs. Enos T. Throop I recall a medium 
sized lady, elegantly attired ; and I remember I used 
to watch for her api^earance in her pew, and I am 
afraid the costume she used to wear attracted me more 
than the music or the services of the church. 

Judge Miller and family. Judge Joseph Richard- 
son, to whom the "gamins" of Auburn gave the so- 
briquet of old "square toes," were the regular atten- 
dants at old St. Peter's. Young America was not one 
whit more respectful then than now. 

The second incumbent of St. Peter's parish was the 
Rev. Mr. McDonald, a very able scholar and an edify- 
ing preacher, so said the vestry or elders of the church. 
I remember that there were two large box stoves in the 
vestibule, from which pipes were carried through the 
entire body of the edifice, and these afforded only an 
apology for wanuth. However, many people brought 
foot-stoves, which the sexton filled with glowing coals 
and with noiseless steps carried them to their several 
owners. When the warmth was somewhat expended, 
I would sit at the feet of my aunt, resting my head 
on the huge muff which she used to wear. I'm sure 
it was of the size of a modern j)illow ! and there, 
unless attracted by Mrs. Throop' s new Avinter costume 
or a stunning pelisse worn by one or more of Judge 
Miller's family, I would lay down my head and sleep 
until I heard the Doxology being sung in the wonder- 
ful bass tones of Warden Bostwick. Now my head 
goesnid, nid, nodding, sitting in the gloaming, review- 
ing the scenes of "Long Ago," while a longing for 



110 EAKLY LIFE IN AUBUKN. 

rest comes over me and I recall tlie words from a fav- 
orite hymn : 

" Rest comes at length, though life be long and dreary. 

The day must dawn and darksome night be past, 

All journeys end in welcome to the weary. 

And Heaven, the heart's true home will come at last." 

It is a fact somewhat curious in the history of my 
family, that each one of us found in the family of Mr. 
Wm. Bostwick, one of the earliest pioneers of Au- 
burn, an intimate friend. The eldest son, Wm. Bost- 
wick, Jr., afterwards an Episcopal clergyman, was 
generally accorded to my sister Hannah, as escort to 
all the tea-parties and other village gatherings ; Hi- 
ram, a second son, became an admirer of my sister 
Louisa ; while sister Hannah found in Miss Polly 
Bostwick, afterwards Mrs. Samuel Graves, a congenial 
companion, and life-long friend. At the same time 
my sister Louisa and Miss Philura Bostwick were like 
' ' twin cherries growing on one stem. ' ' My brothers, 
Lucien and Owen, were mated by Augustus and 
James, third and fourth sons of the same family. And 
I found daily delight in the society of Jane Maria and 
Betsey Bostwick, the two youngest daughters of the 
family numbering thirteen, belonging to that house- 
hold. With them I attended the district school, at- 
tached to the church, or built within the lot on which 
the church stands. It was a substantial brick build- 
ing. The first teacher whom I remember was a man 
of the name of Rowley, originally from Vermont, 
rather clever in arithmetic, but ignorant in many stu- 
dies necessary to become a teacher of the boys and 
girls of Auburn. It was discovered that he had re- 
cently pursued the occupation of drover, but his ex- 
periment in teaching school proved to him that the 



EAELY LIFE IN AUBUEN. Ill 

boys and girls of Auburn were not like "dumb driv- 
en cattle," and he was compelled to return to the 
green pastures of his native state. After him came 
Mr. Alexander Chalmers, a smart young bachelor, 
quite acceptable to the society of Auburn. He be- 
came afterwards a merchant in New York. Next 
came Mr. Charles Todd, who eventually turned his 
attention to the Episcopal ministry. He had a florid 
complexion, fiery red hair, and a temper to match it. 
Subsequently I attended the school of Mr. Conrad 
Ten Eyck. Here I became acquainted with Miss Fan- 
ny Goodwin, and Sarah, her sister. Both of these 
girls were superior scholars. Miss Sarah Brinkerhoff 
and Isabella, her sister, were of my class in geogra- 
phy and arithmetic. Also, Mr. John Beach, John 
Garrow, Charles Lynde, George Leitcli and Mr. Levi 
Parsons. We had spelling matches, which I have 
some pride in recollecting, as I frequently stood at the 
head of my class, though the heads of almost all of 
them were above mine. I must not forget Lorenzo 
Pease, also Jessie and Morton Taintor, also "Dan" 
and "Dave" Steele, sons of, perhaps, Elihu, or Eli- 
sha Steele, who lived near the toll gate, beyond the 
handsome residence of Esq. Garrow, And this re- 
minds me of the Graham family, Sophia and Susan 
and Elizabeth. They lived nearly opposite Esq. Gar- 
row's. The mother alv/ays an invalid, I think they 
came from New York, and finally returned thither. 

My next schooling was under the auspices and tu- 
torage of Miss Almira Bennett, a pattern of propriety 
and decorum and rare amiability and piety. Here I 
met the daughters of Mr. Horace Hills, Miss Eliza- 
beth Porter, and my friend Betsey Maria Bostwick. 
At recess we were permitted to entertain, and to make 



112 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

calls and visits, and here I was initiated into the forms 
or rule of social and polite society, thanks to Miss 
Bennett, now the venerable Mrs. Clary of Auburn. My 
last appearance at school in Auburn was at the Girls" 
Department, in a wing of the Theological Seminary, 
under the management of Prof. Noble D. Strong, and 
Miss (Sarah, I think) Goodwin, afterwards Mrs. Dr. 
Smith. Here I knew Mary and Cornelia Pitnej^, 
Huldah and F'annie Payne, Phoebe Williams and her 
brother, Warren Worden, Throop and George Martin, 
Walter and Blanchard Posgate. The girls of the 
school frequently recited in the boys' class room, and 
at recess we all held high conference in the hall. 

I remember most of the notable men of Auburn, 
who occupied (I mean) the first positions in society. 
Among them Messrs. George and Enos T. Throop, 
Samuel and John Dill, Judges Miller and Richardson. 
Wm. H. Seward was a student at law with his future 
father in-law when I was about ten years of age. He 
was a young gentleman of rather slight but compact 
figure, having a large aquiline nose, a sanguine com- 
plexion and very red hair. He used to pass our house 
every morning before sitting down to study, bound 
for his daily walk. I saw him often with ladies of 
.Fudge Miller's family, the Judge's sisters, Miss Patty 
and Miss Clara Miller, and his two daughters. Miss 
Lizette and Miss Fanny Miller, afterward Mrs. SeAvard. 
There appeared also at times a sister of Mr. Seward's, 
rather jietite and ladylike, with a lovely complexion 
and hail- of glorious tint, looking as if dyed in ruby 
wine. They sometimes rode on horseback, and I can 
recall their manj' peals of laughter and hilarious 
voices as though it were but yesterday. Miss Lizette 
Miller was a young lady of very independent charac- 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 113 

ter, possessing a manner decidedly i3ronounced. I 
recall seeing her at church one hot afternoon remove 
her large Leghorn Hat. then the latest novelty in mil- 
linery, from her head covered witli dark beautiful 
chestnut curls, and adjustiiig them with same coolness 
as though standing in her own dressing-room, despite 
the remonstrances of her very stately Aunt Clara, 
then replace her hat as if she had done nothing outre 
or indecorous. It was necessary to the Lizette Miller, 
and it Avas done. These young ladies graduated at 
the Troy Seminary, the principal of which institution 
was the renowned Mi's. Willard. Tliey were elegant 
and high-bred in their general deportment, and their 
father had all a father's pride in his charming daugh- 
ters. The most notable entertainments given in those 
days were those given by Judge Miller, Judge Hul- 
burt and Esq. Garrow. The garden at the Garrow 
mansion was a favorite place of resort for the young- 
people of Auburn, equalled only in iioral splendor by 
dear Mrs. Bostwick's. The song and the dance w^ere 
frequentlj' heard in the Squire's generous abode, and 
hospitality was the order of the entertainment — peace 
to liis ashes ! Judge Hulburt had a lovely daughter, 
Caroline by name. Her marriage upon Christmas Eve 
was an event notably impressed upon my mind. 
Though I was not present I heard all the details and 
treasured them in my mental storehouse. The beau- 
ty, elegance and modesty of the bride, the dignity 
and gracious bearing of the bridegroom, Dr. Francis 
Cummings, of Rochester, were the themes of common 
discussion. The younger of the same family were my 
school fellows, Sara h and Maria at Miss Bennett' s, and 
John, Charles and Henry at Mr. Ten Eyck's school. 
I have the most distinct remembrance of Dr. and 



114 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

Mrs. Hacka.liah Burt. The Dr. was one of the pillars 
of St. Peter's church. His tall, an.i^'ular h<i-uro was to 
be seen at his post rain or shine, in hot or cold weath- 
er, accompanied by his faithful wife, a woman of rare 
domestic virtue and goodness. Her (children had, 
indeed, reason to "rise up and call her blessed." 

The good Dr.'s manner of resp(mding, "The Lord 
h-a-a-v-e mercy upon us miseiable sinners," oire'ii 
repeated in the Litany, was something which, replete 
though it was with ])ious unction, always appealer! to 
my risible muscles, despite the gravity of the man, 
and the solemnity of the place. I have reason to re- 
member both Mr. and Mrs. Burt for many acts of 
kindness and friendshij) towards my family, and 1 
shall continue to respect their virtues as long as I live. 
Their children were my school niates at vaiious times 
during my childhood ; Elizabeth was n favorite with 
me. 

I have also a very clear remembrance of the Rev. 
Dr. Lucius Smith and his family. He had a very 
agreeable wife. His daughter. Miss Amanda, was re- 
garded as a very precocions young lady, and it was 
certain that her education was far in advance of the 
generality of the daughters of Auburn at that time. 
The Dr. had also three sons, Junius, Lucius and Da- 
vid. The Dr. Avas hospitable to a fault. Oh, the 
merry-makings I have seen there duiing the holidays! 
The good Dr. was fond of games of forfeits, himself 
taking the lead in all. Full of the thought of mak- 
ing everybody happy, he was hiuiself the impersona- 
tion of cheerfulness and good nat uie, and the parson- 
age under his management was really a homelike re- 
sort for all his parishioners, and a Paradise foi- cliil- 
dien. What, though he had some taint of moral 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 115 

weakness, as who has not, yet may God remember 
him in mercy, for his truly generous nature made him 
a friend to all. 

The Misses Sarah and Mary Ann Payne, daughters 
of Judge (or Esq.) Payne, were the reigning belles of 
Auburn about the year 1820, from that i^eriod to 1824. 
They were, indeed, exceedingly fair girls, and their 
suitors were innumerable, making it an exceedingly 
difficult "matter to select from their forces, a lord and 
master. These lovely sisters were intimate friends of 
my sister Louisa, and from taking note of their con- 
versation, my young ideas began to shoot into the 
mysteries of and miseries pertaining to love affairs, 
I dare say their grandchildren have listened to the 
romantic details of mother' s ' ' ajf aires du cveur " 
many a time. 

Miss Eliza Horner was anotlier of the beauties of 
Auburn. She was gay and brilliant, a brunette, and 
a great favorite in society. Miss Maria Hardenluirg 
was her intimate friend, she was a splendid woman. I 
recollect her queenly appearance upon horseback. 
She had a glorious pair of eyes, and a cheek which 
resembled a ripe peach, yet she became a victim of 
consumption. 

I recollect Michael VanSchoonoven Myers as one of 
the most popular young men in Auburn. I was about 
ten years of age when he made his appearance in 
Auburn society. I recall the many peals of laughter 
which issued invariably from our humble parlors when- 
ever he visited my sister. Mr. Myers was a literary 
critic and his opinion was incontrovertible on all mat- 
ters of taste or fashion. 

I never shall forget how he clii)ped the wings of my 
ambition for fame. I was fond of scribbling little 



116 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

romances, and young as I was, I had read at this time 
most of Shakespeare's phiys, which I had borrowed 
from Mr. James P. Fitch's library. I had written a 
little story, embodying the history of a flirtation at 
Saratoga, and was pouring out my secret in an epis- 
tolary confession to my dearest friend, in which I 
deplored having lost my heart to a tall, emaciat- 
ed stranger, whose every feature bespoke the 
nobility of his soul, and the grandeur of his nature. 
This effusion of my youthfii] brain fell into the hands 
of my sister Louisa, with whom Mr. Myers was a 
great favorite. I heard them indulging in side-split- 
ting laughter and catching now and then a word or 
two of their conversation, found to my great mortili- 
cation that my novel was being cut up for their 
amusement. Mr. Myers declared it was too good to 
keep. At the same time he burst forth into laughter 
in which my sister joined, and they kept up such jpro- 
longed merriment, that I resolved that I would never 
write anything again as long as I lived. At any i-ate 
I was convinced that Mr. Myers' conception of my 
ability as an authoress was not what I desired or had 
anticipated. But I have forgiven him long since, and 
despite his discouraging comments, here I am scrib- 
bling for your society today. 

I recall, also, the face of Mr. George Fleming, a 
young lawyer of Auburn. He was remarkably hand- 
some but his convivial habits over-mastered his better 
nature, and he fell a victim to intemperance, at a very 
early age. I recollect, also, the funeral of his father. 
Gen. Fleming. It was the lirst military pageant I had 
ever witnessed where the sound of the muffled drum 
was consx)icuous in the baud. The horse of the for- 
mer owner being led by the General's body servant, 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 117 

the military boots of the soldier being reversed and 
hanging on either side of the saddle of the rider, now 
being borne to his last resting place, made it a solemn 
spectacle, and one which drew together a large con- 
conrse of citizens and strangers. 

The woods in the rear of the old Fort Hill were my 
favorite resort, also of my companions and school- 
mates, Deborah and Jane Bill, nieces and wards of 
Mr. Samuel Dill, one of the early settlers of Auburn. 
These woods became the scene of a thrilling adventure 
to the above named girls and myself, and Jane and 
Betsey Maria Bostwick. The surface of the wood was 
undulating, there being many deep hollows, and as 
many butter hills, as we used to call them. Now 
when once we found ourselves far away from the noise 
of the town, the shadows of the forest trees above and 
around us, the gloom and the stillness made it a sol- 
emn place to be in, and once we saw high up among 
the branches of the oak tree the form of a rough look- 
ing man. "Oh,"" exclaimed one of our party, "sup- 
pose he should be a robbei*. ' ' It was no sooner uttered 
than we scampered away for dear life, but, alas, deep- 
er into the wood. However we had not proceeded far 
when in the shade of some thicket underbrush we des- 
cried a large black trunk, a rope lying by the side of 
the same. Well we were amazed. It had evidently 
been rifled of everything of value, only some clothing 
of children being left. But we called a council of war 
and resolved to draw the trunk home or to the nearest 
dwelling, whicli was Mr. Bostwick' s. I imagine our 
labor. Up hill and down hill, with the help of the 
rope we had found, we finaliv reached our destination. 
After asking us a few questions, Mr. B. told us that 
the stage had been robbed the night before, and that 



lis EARLY LIFE IlSr AUBURN. 

the parties who had lost the trunk were waiting at the 
hotel to hear, if possible, some tidings of the same. 
Next day we, the finders, were rewarded each one by 
the owner of the trunk, with as bright a half-dollar as 
ever was seen. There were at the time that I mention 
this incident just four houses between St. Peter's 
Church and the big house at the mount. These were 
Mr. Wm. Bostwick's, Mr. Peter Field' s, Mr. Robert's, 
my father's and Mr. Thomas Finn's, my father having 
bought a lot, built a small two story house Tipon it, 
where I have been told Mr. Myers now resides. I re- 
collect well the large hre wliich partially destroyed the 
Auburn prison. We could hear distinctly the roar 
and crackle of the devouring element, though the 
creek then almost a river, ran between us and the scene 
of disaster. 

At this time of my life, being a child of rather deli- 
cate organization, I was not allowed to go to school. 
How often I stood at the front gate of our little court 
.yard, watching the long emigrant trains ploughing 
through the heavy sands of a new road, common in 
those days, drawn by oxen sometimes, and the canvas 
covered wagon, revealing the faces of men and women 
and children all bound for the far west. 

Uncle Peter Field must not be forgotten in these 
sketches. He was a retired watch maker and jeweler 
from New York. He was a man of much thought and 
reseai'ch, disposed to dwell in peace with his neigh- 
bors. He was looked upon as an oracle of wisdom, 
especially in the matter of regulation of time. All 
Auburn went by the tick of Uncle Peter Field's clock. 
He had two fair daughters, Deborah became the wife 
of Mr. Samuel Dill, and Maria a very beautiful woman 
who was deserted by her husband. How charmingly 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 119 

she dressed. Her father kept to the strictest cut of 
the quaker garb, her sistei', Mrs. Dill, was always seen 
in sober attire, but Mrs. Hall, that was her name, was 
as bewildering in her costume as any Parisian belle of 
to-day. She attracted my attention and delighted my 
young eyes, like a bird or a butterfly ; she lived and 
died like one of these leaving two children to the care 
of her aged parents. 

I remember the Rev. Dirck Lansing whose terrible 
denunciations in the pulpit acquired for him the sobri- 
quet of DR. BLxlZES ! owing to his graphic pictures 
of the torments of the wicked world doomed to ever- 
lasting damnation in the flames of hell. I wonder 
what became of his own precious boy, a pretty little 
fellow, but"given to many crooked ways which some- 
how seem to afliict ministers' boys. Does he live ? 

There was in the Dr. 's congregation a certain Deacon 
Oliphant. Let me see, was he a printer '. I believe so. 
I think he was an Englishman. He was a devout man 
and once carried away by the fervor of his feelings, he 
prayed God to pour out his spirit upon all the unin- 
habited portions of the earth, making it to blossom 
with the fruits of his grace. The said deacon had a 
large family, and it was the custom at this time for 
neighbors to sit up, that is, watch with their sick neigh- 
bors, performing every duty of a professional nurse. 
Now "patience is a bitter herb, but wholesome withal." 
But the ills to which the Oliphants were heirs, out- 
grew the sweet charities of the community in which 
they dwelt. All agreeing, however, that in the good 
deacon's family there was at least as much watching 
as x-raying. 

I recall the portly form of the dignified Judge Mil- 
ler blessed with health, a competence and a charming 



120 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

family. He looked and walked the impersonation of 
worldly ease and enjoyment. He litid n r. gro servant 
man commonly called Pete, who had a face as lonnd as 
the moon and who was as good iiatnred and handsome 
a specimen of his race as it falls to one' s lot to see in a 
life time. He followed the gracious example of his 
master, and was noted for his i^oliteness becoming the 
master of ceremonies at all the balls and gatherings for 
young and old in Auburn. On one occasion at a part}^ 
given by a daughter of one of the dignitaries of Au- 
burn, the gallant Pete so im]3ressed a young girl just 
entering her teens, by urging her to take another bit 
of cake or may be some fruit, that she unwittingly re- 
joined, "No, I thank you dear," a circumstance which 
made Pete more pomj^ous than ever, but which cov- 
ered the face of the fair novice with blushes of deepest 
hue. 

I cannot pass over the real enjoyment realized by my 
family in the music afforded us by the skilful flute 
players of those days, I mean Mr, Wm. Bostwick, jr. 
and Mr. John Hardenburgh, and a little later, Mr. 
Ashael Munger. Tlie two formei- gentlemen used to go 
over to the brow of old Fort Hill and play from early 
twilight till nine o'clock in the evening, and as our 
house was near, we heard their dulcet notes distinctly. 
At other times they came to our house and sat on the 
porch, discoursing sweet music, and chatting with my 
sisters. John Hardenburg sometimes held me on his 
lap. We were indebted to Mr. Bostwick for some 
valuable services in our garden, for instance, a com- 
mon peach tree was made to put forth the loveliest al- 
mond blossoms, and a purple lilac exhibited white 
clusters of flowers of the same species at the same time. 
He was an amiable gentleman, a great student, and 



EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 121 

dear as the apple of their eyes to the hearts of his 
worthy parents. 

I recall the faces of John Henry Bacon also his 
brother Frank, Messrs. Harvey, I think, Beach and 
William Beach. I remember Laura and Mary Coles, 
Eloise Finn, afterwards Mrs. Mimger, and the Misses 
Sophia and Henrietta Gfarrow. 

The Misses Lizette and Fannie Miller introduced the 
fashion of visiting cards at our house, when I was about 
ten years of age. It was an epoch in the social history 
of Auburn society, these same cards. Miss Fannie 
was a very winning and gracious lady. Once when 
calling on my sisters she noticed some work in which I 
was engaged, a work which had set the young people 
of Auburn, of the working cla.ss, all agog. There hav- 
ing been established a cotton factory on the creek at 
the Falls, below Uncle Sammie Dill's saw-mill, there 
was a great call for carding machines. The teeth and 
leather backs were sent to those who undertook the 
work. I was setting these into the leather prepared, 
when Miss Fannie said, ' 'I can do that. Let me see if 
I can not.'' Down she sat and she did. 

I grew to have a great respect for the name and char- 
acter of Mr. Seward. I watched his career with intense 
interest, noting the ups and downs of his eventful life. 
After the dastardly attempt at his assassination at 
Washington, which so nearly cost his life, and after 
he had resumed liis place in the cabinet, I wrote him a 
letter which he answered with many kind exj^ressions 
of interest towards myself and family. And again 
after his return from his journe}' round the world, I 
wrote him, this time answered by his amanuensis. I 
have both letters, and I intend keeping them as heir 
looms, transmitting them to my only grandchild. 



122 EARLY LIFE IN AUBURN. 

T love Auburn, but there are few persons left here 
now who will remember me. Nevertheless, 

"Lives there a man with soul so dead, 
Who never to himself has said, 
This is my own, my Native Land." 

and loved it correspondingly { 



CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY 
OF 1849. 



A Paper read before the Cayuga County Historical Society, 
Aprii, 25th, 1S83. 

BY W. A. OGDEN. 



CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY OF 1849. 



It was in the winter of 1848 when lirst the gold mines 
of California were discovered, and men's minds were 
excited and filled with the wonderful stories of the 
marvellous wealth that could be gained in that far off 
country. The excitement produced on the Atlantic 
coast as well as in foreign countries cannot be de- 
scribed. 

Thousands from all parts of the world started in 
search of the new "Eldorado." believing that there 
they would make the fortunes which represented to 
them ease, pleasure and happiness. 

In December 1848, or January 1849, many in Central 
New York were attacked with the California fever. 
It was about this time that word came of a company 
which was being organized in Auburn, known as the 
"Cayuga Joint Stock Company "" to which every one 
of good, fair reputation and standing, could, by en- 
rolling his name and paying in $500, become a member 
receiving all the advantages then supposed to be de- 
rived from such an association. The Company was 
organized in accordance with the prevailing fashion at 
that time, for mutual interest, protection and profits. 
Losses were not counted in as who conld lose in such a 
land of gold as we were bound for ^ Mr. Abijah Fitch, 
of Auburn, acted as our purchasing and disbursing 
agent, and too much can not be said in praise of his 



126 CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 

honesty and integTity in iiurchasing the stores and all 
the accessories needed for siich a long voyage. Every 
thing was of the best that could be found in the mark- 
et. The ship, a Baltimore Clipper of five hundred tons, 
called the barque, Belvidere, purchased by the advice 
of Captain Barney, was the best that could be secured 
for the mone3\ It had long been pronounced so un- 
seaworthy that no responsible insurance company 
would insure a life that sailed with her. 

The organization of the company was not completed 
imril we arrived in New York, where we met in the 
dining-room of the Western Hotel, in Cortland street, 
and elected officers for the year. Mr. W. W. ShejDpard 
w as made president, J. H. Stearns, John P. Yawger, 
Gfeorge H. Preston and Edwin Jones were elected di- 
rectors. Captain Barney was a member of the associa- 
tion, as were also the two Gardners, the first and sec- 
ond mates. Dr. W. A. Grover of Syracuse was our 
pliysician. xVrticles of association, which were pre- 
pared by the president, were adopted by the Company 
and signed by each member. Believing that they are 
an important part of this history, and will prove in- 
teresting, I have made a summary of them as follows : — 

The preamble states that the object of the Company 
"is to engage in mining, trading and such other busi- 
ness in the territory of California, and at such other 
places as shall be deemed by the Company for the best 
interests of the same. 

Article 1st, provides that the officers shall consist of 
a president and four directors, "who shall have the 
control and management of the business of the Com- 
pany." 

By Article 3, the president and directors are requir- 
ed on the first Monday in each and every month "to 



CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 12lf 

make a written report of the business and financial 
condition of the Company, so far as they shall be able 
to do so.'* 

Article 4, provides, that each member shall have the 
riffht at all times to examine the books of the Co]ni)anv, 
to "call any officer to account" and to ''actual insiDec 
tion of any property or funds."" 

Article 5, reads as follows : — ''Each and every mem- 
ber shall faithfully devote his time, his ijersouai ser- 
vices, and his whole energies, except in case of sickness 
or other physical inability, to the sole use and benefit 
of the Company. But in case there shall be a dividend 
of any profits before the the ex]3iration of the term of 
this organization, each and eveiy member shall in that 
case have the privilege of making any investment of 
any such dividends to his own use and profit, provided 
the same be limited to one transaction and each mem- 
ber shall not deprive the Company of his time or ser- 
vices to its injury. And no member shall in mij case 
bargain, sell or speculate on his own account, or enter 
into any private speculation or traffic in any manner, 
unless the same be authorized by the President or di- 
rectors. " 

By Article 6 is provided, that any one can leave the 
Company at any time "in case a majority of the mem- 
bers shall so decide, but such majority shall have the 
power to prescribe the terms and condition upon which 
such members shall be premitted to leave.'' 

Article? is as follows : — "Each and every member 
of the Company shall, unless prescribed by a physician, 
or in case of sudden and imminent sickness, abstain 
from the use as a beverage of all intoxicating liquors, 
and if any member shall become intoxicated, upon 
proof thereof, such member shall forfeit for each of- 



128 CAYUGA JOIl^T STOCK COMPANY. 

fence, the sum of one hundred dollars, nor shall any 
member indulge in gambling in any manner whatever. 
And if any member shall become unable to labor, or 
otherwise to discharge his duties as a member of the 
Company, in consequence of indulgence in any vice, he 
shall forfeit such a proportion of his interests in the 
Company, as the time during which such member shall 
be so unable to discharge his duties sliall bear to the 
entire period of service in the Company. And the 
members of the Company shall have the power to ex- 
pel by a vote of two-thirds, any member who, through 
drunkenness, gambling or any other vicious excess, 
shall jeopardize or endanger the interests of, or render 
himself useless to the Company ; and any member so 
expelled, shall forfeit not more than one-half, nor less 
than one-quarter of his entire interest in the Company, 
to be determined by a like vote of two-thirds of the 
members." 

Article 8, "If any officer or member shall fraudently 
serve, secrete, embezzle or abscond with any funds or 
other property of the Company, or be found guilty of 
any breach of trust, such officer or member shall forfeit 
his entire interest in the Compan}^, unless by a vote of 
two-thirds of the members of the Company, shall im- 
pose a penalty other than entire forfeiture and then 
such penalty shall be in lieu of the entire forfeiture in 
this section mentioned. And if any member shall de- 
sert this Company, he shall forfeit his entire interest 
in the same. And this Company by a two-thirds vote 
of the members, sliall for any offence under this sec- 
tion have power, in addition to the penalties or penal- 
ty herein imposed, to expel such officer or member 
from the Company. 

Article 10 provides that "the President and direct- 



CAYUGA .JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 129 

ors, at the expiration of one year, shall declare a divi- 
dend of one-quarter of the net profits," and the same 
at the end of the second year, and they are enjoined 
from making dividends which shall exceed the propor- 
tions stated, unless authorized and directed ])y a unan- 
imous vote of the Company. 

Article 11, In case any member shall be taken sick, 
such member shall be faithfully attended to, by and at 
the expense of the Company, and the interest of such 
member shall in no wise be att'ected by such sickness, 
unless as in these articles otherwise provided. "'In 
case of the death of any member hereof, the pi'ojjor- 
tionate interest of such person shall be struck, up to 
the time of his death, and duly paid to his heirs, &c." 

Article 12, "Each and every member shall be em- 
ployed at such business or occupation, and in such 
manner as trhe President and directors may require.'' 

Article 14, No member shall, during the continu- 
ance of the organization, devote his time to labor or 
othei' secular employment, unless in case of necessity, 
on the Seventh or Sal)batli Day. 

Article 15 contains these provisions, " Nor shall the 
president and directors, or any members, have author- 
ity to mak'e any investment of the funds of the 
company in real estate, unless the members of the 
company shall authorize them so to do by a unani- 
mous vote. Nor shall the said directors, president or 
any member, engage in any other business or transac- 
tions in behalf, or with the funds of the compan}', 
unless so autiiorized by a like uiumimous vote of the 
members. 

Article 10 provides "In case there should unfortun- 
ately occur any personal difficulties, dissensions and 
disputes between any individuals who are members of 



IBO CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 

this company, the same shall be leieired to the adju- 
dication of the i)resident and directors thereof, who, 
after hearing a full statement of the facts on both 
sides, and examining witnesses, if necessary, shall 
have power to impose a tine of not less than ten nor 
over one hundred dollars upon each, either or all of 
the parties who have been found guilty of violating 
the just rights of any other member. But such tine 
may be remitted or increased by a majority Aote of 
the company. 

Article 17, In case of any violation on the part of 
any member, of any article of this association, or any 
pai-t thereof, and such member shall i-ender himself 
amenable to the company or its officers, charged with 
any adjudication herein, and shall refuse to submit to 
the determination of the company or its officers, such 
member shall be expelled by a vote of the majority, 
and upon such terms as the majority shall impose. 

Article 18 is in part as follows, '' Upon each and 
every dividend, and upon the final distribution, each 
member shall be entitled to his proportionate and 
equal share with every other member in any and all 
funds, property or profits belonging to, or which shall 
hereafter belong to this compan5^ No member of this 
company shall be entitled to any salary or pay for his 
services, aside from his interest in the company unless 
by a vote of two-thirds of tlie members. 

Article 19, The company shall supply each and 
every member free from all charges or expense, with 
provisions, tents, if required, beds and bedding, med- 
ical attendance in case of sickness, and such tools and 
utensils as are necessary in the profitable emj^loyment 
of the members in whatever occuj)arion they may be 
engaged. And no charge shall be made against smy 



CAyUGA .rOINT STOCK COMPANY. 131 

member for passage out or provisions, or on tlie re- 
tui'n of the vessel belonging to the company. 

Article 24, These articles of co-partnership or asso- 
ciation shall continue in force for the period of three 
years fiom the date thereof, unless by a. vote of at 
least nine-tenths of the members at an annual meet- 
ing it shall be otherwise deteraiined. Nor shall these 
articles or covenants be in any wise altored or changed 
unless by a like vote of at least nine-tenths of the 
members. 

Our cargo consisted of mining tools. x)rovisions for 
three years, and quite a large amount of lumbei- for 
building purposes and merchandise. The disburse- 
ments and receipts of the comj)any, as indicated by 
my memoranda, were as follows : The ship and sup- 
plies cost $14,716.71 ; drugs and medicines, $5oO ; 
goods &c., $24,285 ; commission $1,710.63 ; amount 
paid in by members, $31*, 000, showing 78 men. There 
were in fact 79, but Capt. Bai-ney did not pay as he 
was allowed $500 for services. We received for pas- 
sengers $250. 

Each man had an immense sea-chest, in which were 
his personal supplies for a three years' absence. 
Judging from my own effects, I should say each had 
a five years' supply instead of three. As our ship 
was not ready, we were detained some time in New 
York, but on the 28tli of February about 9 o'clock, 
word came that she would sail at 11 a. m. We were 
all on boai'd in time, and as we left the pier gave three 
cheers for those who had come to add their good 
wishes to our bright anticipations. Five of the com- 
pany remained behind to take the Isthmus route, go- 
ing ahead as pioneers to survey the ground, and 
select the best places. They were W. W. Shex)pard, 



132 CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 

E. L. Pinch, Asher Markliam, Wm. Stjirk and E. S. 
Sayles. 

One of my townsmen, Mr. Alfred Aveiv of (leiioa, 
wlu) liad manifested mucli enthusiasm in ret^ard to the 
enterprise, came to New York to see lis off. I can 
still see him, at he stood on the pier, hat in hand, his 
gray hair streaming in the wind, bidding us "Good- 
bye'' and ''God Speed." 

Of the members of the company but few weie i)er- 
sonally acquainted. They were true, manly fellows, 
with brave hearts, and courage for the new life, and en- 
thusiasm which nothing could daunt. So great was the 
anxiety among all classes to go to (•alifornia that our 
sailors were hired at one dollar per month. This amount 
was given in order that they should sign the sliii)\s pa- 
pers, and thus become subject to the laws and regula- 
tions of the ship. D. C. Richaidson, G. W. Richard- 
son, Lawrence White, and some other members of the 
company, who had previously had experience as sail- 
ors, also signed the ship's papers, and did service 
through the entire voyage. A large portion of the 
company assisted in sailing the vessel, and soon be- 
came expert seamen ; so much so. that when we 
entered port, our shix^ was brought to anchor, and 
sails furled equal to a man-of-war, oui- captain being 
highly c(miplimented on the manner in whicli our ship 
entered the port of Callao. 

Our passage to quarantine was pleasant. Coming 
to anchor about 3 p. :>[., having to Avait for a favorable 
wind that would take us, with five or six other vessels, 
out to sea. March 2nd. the wind being all that could 
be desired, a pilot came on board, the anchor was 
raised and we were at last started on oui- long voyage 
to the Pacific coast. The wiiul was blowing hard from 



OAYUaA JOINT STOCK COMPAISTY. 133 

the north east, and our sail from quarantine to Sandy 
Hook was ;i rapid one. Here the pilot left us, de- 
parting amid the hearty cheers given by those on 
board. But I doubt if, six hours after his departure, 
a cheer could have been raised on our ship. We 
were beating into the wind, and the vessel with its 
heavy cargo of lumber, rolled fearfully. A large 
number of the chests between deck, broke from their 
lashings, and were sliding and tumbling in all direc- 
tions. The confusion and noise were indescribable. 
When we left the Hook all were on deck, feeling hap- 
py and jolly, each asking the other who would be the 
first to succumb to sea sickness. It came quickly to 
all except two of us. 

On each side of the vessel next to the bulwark, 
w^ere lashed some heavy spars, which were made a 
convenient place for sitting, being just high enough so 
that a i^erson could put his head on top and look into 
the sea. In a very few hours seventy odd men were 
seated in a row on the leeward side of the vessel, 
looking into the sea, and acting as near alike, and in 
concert, as possible. As night approached, one and 
another of the poor fellows made their way to thei r 
staterooms, some tiying to joke and smile, others mad 
to think they were sick, and many in tears. One 
gentleman from Auburn exclaimed in his misery, 
" Oh ! why did I leave home i I who had so good a 
home I Why does not the captain run into some of 
these j)orts along here ^'^ It is unnecessary to men- 
tion that the ports wished for were many miles dis- 
tant. 

We received during the first day two alarms, one 
being a narrow escajje from collision with an outward 
bound vessel, the other, that of tire, caused bv the 



184 CAYUOA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 

bursting oi' a baii'el of coal tar, wliirli had broken 
from its lashings. Much dissatisfaction was felt at 
first from the manner in which the provisions were 
sei'ved until we were organized into "messes," when 
all difficulties seemed to vanish. Each ''mess'' was 
composed of twelve men, except one, and that was 
made up of one man, possessed of such an insatiable 
appetite that no one would venture to mess with him. 
I will not mention his name, but every man in the 
company, now living, will at once recognize him. 

We " spoke'* many ships on our way, receiving 
fi'om all a hearty recognition. On the 30th of March, 
we sighted the Cape de Verde islands, and though we 
did not leave the ship, the sight of land was very 
pleasant. We had the long wished for opportunity 
of seiiding, through a fishing party, near one of the 
islands, our first letters to the friends at home. The 
8th 01 April we struck the trade winds. Our Sun- 
days were passed quietly, a part of the time occupied 
with religious services, A. C. Hall, of Auburn, ad- 
dressing us often on the evils of intemperance and 
swearing. 

The 16th of April we had what might be termed a 
family row on a large scale ; Captain Barney, who was 
very sensitive and quick to take offence, had heard 
some criticisms by members of the company in regard 
to his management. Recalled the comj^any " aft" on 
the quarter deck, and gave us a speech, threatening 
that unless apologies were made and he was sustained 
by the company, he woidd take the ship into Rio Ja- 
neiro and deliver her over to the consul. After much 
talk, and some high words, a vote was taken, and the 
captain sustained. This quieted the waters for the 
time being. We w^ere very much like a large family; 



CAYUGA JOIlSrT STOCK COMPAT^Y. 135 

difTerences would occur, and two or three times it re- 
quired a vote of the aa hole company to quiet matters 
and keep peace. 

On the 14th of May we had the heaviest gale of the 
voya.^e, — many seas breaking over the vessel. I w^as 
awakened about midnight by a lurch of the ship, and 
by the voice of the third mate telling me, that if I 
washed to see a regular "buster" to turn out, and 
come on deck. I could not stay there very long, as 
every sea made a clean sweep over the ship. But 
there was no more rest that night, as we were all oc- 
cupied in keeping a horizontal position. We were 
much interested in the strange birds that w^e some- 
times succeeded in catching. One called the "Nellie" 
w^as about as large as a turkey. An albatross that w^e 
caught was about three times as large as a goose. 
The bill was from four to six inches in length, and 
crooked at the end. It measured from tip to tip of 
its wings, eleven feet. 

The 3rd of May we made the Falkland islands ; 
tliey are large, but wath low lands. They are said to 
have been settled by an English colony, ])ut after the 
settlers became pirates, they were dispersed by an 
American man-of-war. The islands abound in wild 
horses, cattle, bears and sea elephants, and all species 
of sea-birds. The wdnds were contrary, the sea run- 
ning mountains high, and we drifting with the wdnd. 

On the 1st of June w^e had our tirst snow^ storm. 
It was cold, unpleasant and dispiriting, xlbout eigh- 
ty of us collected together in the hold of the old ship 
without a tire, and hardly sufficient light to read by. 
When the cold became too intense w^e sought the 
warmth of our berths. For about a montli we made 
no progress. Time was passed in playing cards, chess. 



186 CAYUOA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 

reading and argiiinii- on the articles in the constitu- 
tion of the company. We wei'e now in latitude 57", 
longitude 75'>, and June 21st was our shortest day, 
being only five and a, half hours long, the sun rising 
al)ove the hoiizon only SV'. On June 2Hid, we could 
congratulate oui'selves on having at last i-ounded Cape 
Horn, and were uoav running from tV)ur to six knots 
an houi". 

We celebrated the 74tli anniversary of America's 
indej)endence by tiring guns and pistols. The Stars 
and Stripes were fastened to ouj- masts, and flying in 
the wind. The order of exercises for the day were, 
1st. prayer by E. A. Mills ; 2nd, singing by the whole 
company ; 3rd, music by the band ; 4th, reading of 
the Declaration of Independence ; 5th, oration by H. 
('. Hall ; singing by the whole company ; 7th, music 
by the band. Last but not least, dinner, which com- 
prised all the luxuries the ship afforded. It will be 
noticed that we had "music by the band." It con- 
sisted of members of the company, and was something 
to be proud of. The musicians weie W. D. Farrand, 
violinist ; Lawrence White, cornet ; L. H. Fenner, 
trombone ; H. T. Graves, flute ; Chas. H. Stewart, 
tambouiine ; G. W. Richardson, triangle ; M. L. Rem- 
ington, clarionet. We were much indebted to them, 
for in that long wearisome voyage their music con- 
tributed in various ways to our happiness When we 
reached San Francisco, our band played in the streets, 
and drew a large and enthusiastic audience. We were 
infoinied that it was the first band ever heard in the 
streets of San Francisco. It was frequently employed 
on festive and public occasions, and received from $50 
to $75 for its services. 

On the 29tli of July we sailed into the harbor of 



CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPAKY. 137 

Callao, and for the first time in iiye montlis set foot 
on land. The giound seemed to rock to and fro. ren- 
dering it impossible for us to walk without staggering. 
Everything looked new and strange. Lying in the 
open air. we saw great piles of Avlieat and different 
kinds of merchandise. Upon inquiry we learned that 
it never rained here. Around the docks were stalls 
wdtli all kinds of tropical fruits for sale, oranges, ba- 
nanas, etc., etc. The people were a dai'k and misera- 
ble set of beings. 'I'he streets "were very irregular, 
V)ut well i)aved, as also were the w^alks. The houses 
were generally of one story in height, and built of 
mud and cement. The markets were most tempting 
for a hungry sailor, well paved, with fountains, and 
delicious fruits. 

After exploring the town we started on an investi- 
gating tour through the country, where half a mile 
from town we came to a large monument with a cross 
on top. It was said to have been the spot where a 
Peruvian man-of-war was thrown up at the time of 
the great earthquake in 1715. w^hich also destroyed 
old Callao, sinking part, and Hooding the rest. In 
company Avith an American, who had resided there 
six years, we explored the ruins, where we found 
arches of many of the churches, and remains of 
houses. 

One morning, another and myself started to w^alk 
to Lima, a city six miles distant. We found the road 
a very good one, from four to six rods in width, with 
a low wall on each side. Th^ sand made the walking- 
laborious, but there were many restaurants where we 
could rest. The road was crowded with people going 
and coming, some on horses, others on mules. With- 
in two miles of the city, the roads were l)ordered by 



138 CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 

side-paths, beautiful G:ardens, with seats for weary 
ti'aveh^rs, and fruit trees. We passed unnoticed by 
the sentinels at the gate, and entei'ing Lima, found it 
very much like (^nllao. Many of the houses were 
only one story in lieight, tliough there were some fine 
residences. The cathedrals were very beautiful, dec- 
orated in the richest manner wath gold and silvei*. 
We went from the cathedral to the ^(resident's jialace 
(a remarkably fine building), where we saw the presi- 
dent, who greeted us very politely. We visited the 
cotton factories, markets, museums, and Peiuvian 
Library, which contained at that time more than 12(),- 
()()() volumes. The i)eople were finer looking than at 
Callao. We could not form a judgment of the ladies, 
for all that we could see of their features was one eye, 
the rest of the face being closely veiled. We retuin- 
ed to Callao the next day. 

On August 7th, w^e lifted anchor, and bade adieu to 
old Peru, starting again with a good wind for Califor- 
nia. After our little dissipation in Peru we had no 
money left ; w^e were obliged to sell some of the extra 
spars, which in order to avoid duty, were lowered 
over the sides of the ship during the night, being- 
towed aAvay by the ships which bought them. We 
did not feel our poverty, for were w^e not bound for 
the land of gold ''( Our time w^as now occupied in 
making tents, gold- washers, etc., in anticipation of 
our new life. We were troubled now with sickness. 
as a result of our holiday on land, and one of our 
number, Waltei' W. Tuttle, of Auburn, died very un- 
expectedly to us all. It was our first death, and expe- 
rience of burial at sea. He was a true and manly 
fellow, esteemed by us all, and his death cast a heavy 
gloom over the ship. There was a singular incident 



CAYUGA .TOIISrT STOCK COMPANY. 189 

connected with that sad event. The day before his 
death a very handsome black bird, about the size of a 
dove, came and lit on the combings of tlie main hatch 
within a few feet of where poor Tattle was lying, and 
remained there all the afternoon, permitting itself to 
be handled by any one who canie along. Just before 
dark it rose, and making a circle around the ship, lit 
on the fore-top gallant yard, where it remained until 
a few minutes after he died, when it flew away, and 
was not seen again. 

An incident happened at this time which atfordnd 
us not a little amusement. One of the party. W. D. 
Farrand, who afterwards figured somewhat promi- 
nently at Peru, was an expert with the boxing gloves. 
One day. while sparring with others on deck, he chal- 
lenged the Rev. Mr. Godfrey to put on the gloves and 
try him. After much persuasion, Mr. Godfrey ac- 
cepted the challenge. After receiving several hits 
from Farrand he became somewhat excited, and let- 
ting out his long arm gave Farrand a blow on the 
nose which floored him, "and the subsequent proceed- 
ings interested him no more.'' The time seemed very 
long now, and we waited impatiently for the end of 
our journey. We were delayed three weeks by calms 
and head winds, but on the 8th day of Octol^ei-. after 
being over seven months, or 312 days, on shipboard, 
we entered with loud cheers the Golden Gate of Cali- 
fornia. 

When we arrived in San Francisco, the company 
was out of funds, and we all went ashore seeking 
work, which each man found for himself, turning the 
avails into the common fund. The day laborers re- 
ceived $1 per hour. Some were quick and successful 
others not so ; a few indicating that labor was not the 



140 CAYUGA JOINT STOi^K COMPANY. 

first thin<2:they wislied foi', but they were most willing 
to assist ill spending!; money. Our tents were placed 
on the shore, men being left to care for them, and at- 
tend to the cooking. We worked in this way several 
weeks, coining to our meals at the camp, until funds 
had accumulated. Then a mining party, consisting 
of nineteen men, was organized to go to Stockton, on 
the way to tlie Mariposa mines. AVe took tlie long 
boat whi(?h could carry ten tons of freight, filled her 
with tents, camp equipages and piovisions sufficient 
for a winter's supply, and started in a whale boat 
towing the long boat. The voyage was very tedious, 
as much of the time we were comi)elled to use the 
oars. A few nights we were unable to land, and had 
to remain in our boats, resting as best we could. On 
aivriving at Stockton we hired a train of mules to pack 
us in to the mines, paying freight at the rate of fifty 
cents per pound, everything being carefully weighed. 
The price at that time seemed immense, to us, not be- 
ing used to it. 

Our march to the Mari])osa mines was a long one. 
We were detained for a day or two by the floods on 
the Stanislaus river. Here we had great fun catching 
salmon, which were jjlainly to be seen going up the 
river by the thousands. We shot them and killed 
them with clubs. Those speared by the Indians, 
weighing ten or twelve i)Ounds, were sold for ten cents 
apiece. Here I found my fii-st gold, picking it out of 
the rocks witli my jack-knife. 

After leaving the Stanislaus we journeyed through 
a rough hilly country, often with nothing but a mule 
trail for a guide. Once, while passing around a moun- 
tain, one of the mules, on which was packed a barrel 
of jjork, missed his footing and went rolling down the 



CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 141 

mountain until brought to a standstill by some trees. 
After unpacking tlie mule, and working the barrel of 
pork up to the trail, we repacked it, the mule not be- 
ing harmed in the least. On our arrival at the Mari- 
posa mines, w^e encamped on a side hill, dividing into 
squads of four, each squad looking out for itself, and 
finding its own work. G. L. Mead, of Splinter Hill, 
near Moravia, was the hunter of the party, being very 
successful in supplying us with venison, etc. Every 
thing in the eatable line being very expensive, costing 
one dollar per pound, excepting venison, which cost 25 
cents, and Spanish beef which was 50 cents. At one 
time we weighed out in gold $125 for 100 lbs. of 
tlour. Potatoes were not to he had at any price. 

We remained in the nunes, ])eing fairly successful, 
until spring. We then V)roke camp, hiring mules of 
the Ithaca company to pack our baggage and provisions 
down to the junction of tlie San Joaquin and Mercede 
rivers, where we expected our boats to meet us. 
Finding on our arrival at the mouth of the Mercede, 
that our boats were not there, one of the party swam 
the river so as to reach the ferry, which was on the 
San Joaquin, The ferry boat carried us across the 
Mercede, wliere we waited for our V)oats. But as they 
did not come, our party divided, part resolving to 
wait, the rest buying two horses and going to San 
Francisco, by the way of Pachaker's Pass and San 
Jose. Our party made the pass in one day's travel, 
which was thirty miles, if my memory sei'ves me 
right. This was the lirst and last time my strength 
failed me. I was compelled to lie down on the plains, 
waiting until the party had gone to the ranch, un- 
packed the horses, and came back for me. However, 
the next morning found me strong as usual, and in 



142 CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 

advance of the party. We had to camp in tlie rain, 
witli only our oil blankets to protect us. One part of 
the way we had to march through water eighteen or 
twenty inches in depth. It was a most disagreeable 
trip. 

On our arrival at San Francisco, we found a sorry 
looking company of ujen. Many were sick with the 
fever, some had died, quite a number had left the 
company, and had gone into business for themselves, 
among whom were Captain Barney and the Gardners. 
Only ])art of the company went to the mines, the bal- 
ance remained in San Francisco through the winter, 
and labored in various ways ; some at their tiades, 
some in the mint, some as day laborers. They had 
come from all professions and conditions of life, and 
they could do everything from preaching to horse 
stealing. 

Let no one draw unfavorable conclusions from this 
statement. The members of the company were (with 
a few exceptions) true, noble, wholesouled fellows — 
but it would be a marvel if there should not be found 
some black sheep in a liock of seventy-nine which 
had been brought together as we were. 

Tliiee buildings wei-e erected by the company, with 
material which we carried with us. We lost one, as 
we shall find through defect of title. One of the oth- 
ers was rented as a hotel. Those who were in the city 
lived in the other and made it headquarters. As 
there was much sickness, one ])art of this building 
was used as a hospital for the sick members. Mr. 
John Choate had charge of it. It soon became evi- 
dent that, as a "Company" we were not a success, and 
the feeling was unanimous that we must disband. 
This w^as delaj^ed until the annual meeting, when the 



CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 143 

votes stood decidedly in favor of it. Parties were se- 
lected to dispose of, and see to the property as far 
as possible, dividing tlie same equally. J. H. Stearns, 
one or two others and myself were selected to attend 
to the business. We sold all that was valuable be- 
longing to the ship, strijjping her of lier rigging, and 
disposing of her at auction for $2,500. It was hauled 
up in the mud, and made a storehouse of. Afterward, 
I have been told, she was cut down to low water 
mark, filled in with sand, and became tlie foundation 
of a large brick store. 

Before the shii) sailed from New York we invested 
some $15,000 or $20,000 in lumber, spars, beef, pork, 
boots and sht)es, iron and molasses, which were taken 
with the exi)ectation that large in-olits would be made 
when sold in California. Marvellous stories were told 
and published of the feai"f ul prices everything brought 
in the land of gold. We did do well on some of our 
purchases, but our anticipations of making a fortune 
on our investments were not realized. Part of the 
lumber was used in a building which was erected on a 
lot, of which we were subsequently dispossessed, thus 
proving a dead loss to the Company. It will be re- 
membered that we paid for the ship and its supplies 
about $15,000, hence in selling the sliip for $2,500, an- 
other serious loss was sustained. 

In view uf these facts it will not be wondered at 
that the "Cayuga Joint Stock Company"' was not a 
financial success. Each member paid in $500 when 
the company was foi'med. Two dividends were made 
in the spring of 1850, one of $208 and one of $70.92. 
We had then some real estate unsold. This was 
placed in charge J. H. Stearns to sell. I do not re- 
member what we realized from the sale of the real es- 



144 CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 

tate, but I am sure that the last dividend was small, 
if anything. 

. As soon as the Company dissolved, new combina- 
tions were formed, the parties leaving immediately 
f(jj' the mines. Some remained in the city, and ob- 
tained employment in the mint. Our party consisting 
of Timothy L. Barker of Auburn, Volney Hughitt 
and John T. Rundal of Genoa, and myself, located on 
]3ear river, and remained there several months. Then 
we moved down to a place on the Big Auburn ravine, 
called Ophir, three ndles from Auburn. 

While we were on Bear river we used the '' cradle," 
which has recently been described in the Century, but 
it was slow, laborious work. ''It is the rudest and 
siuiplest of all machines employed for the separation 
of gokl from the gravel, through which it is distrib- 
uted. It embodies, in a small way, nevertheless, all 
the essential features of the more elaborate machine 
used in other forms of placer mining.'' For a day's 
labo]' each man was expected to wash one hundred 
pails of dirt, not regarding it as paying unless it 
yielded six to eight cents per pail. After coming 
down to the Auburn ravine, where fevi^ were working 
as the ravine was dry on the surface, we found that a 
claim, as it was called, consisted of fifteen square feet 
for each man. This ravine had been and was a sort of 
(damping ground for those who had been during the 
summer or dry season, working on the rivers, and 
who, during the winter or wvt season, came back to 
the ravine, where there was plenty of water on the 
surface. While here, we adopted the ''Long Tom,'' 
bj'^ which w^e could accomplish much more than by 
the ''cradles," it paying us to go over the same 
ground we had worked with the cradles. 



CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 145 

As I have stated, a claim was but fifteen feet square. 
This was miner's law, and held good by the courts, or 
Alcaldes, which answered for our Justice of the 
Peace. 

As a meeting of the miners could be called at any 
time to change the law, we concluded to call one and 
enlarge our claims. So many miners had returned to 
the rivers, but few gathered at the appointed place, 
after the notice was posted. We easily enlarged 
claims, giving to each man sixty feet up and down the 
stream, and on each side as far as high water mark. 
Having staked our claims before the meeting was 
called, we had secured a fair portion of good paying- 
ground, which was on a long wide bar, and at the foot 
of a rocky canon. We dug a trench across the stream 
to the bed rock, within 160 feet of this canon, filling 
it in with closely packed surface dirt, taken from the 
valley near by. This made a tight water-proof dam, 
causing the water to come to the surface. Tlien we 
built another dam from three to four feet in height, so 
that during the night a sufficient quantity of water 
would collect to run our "Long Tom" through the 
day. As soon as ours proved a success, dams were 
constructed along the entire ravine, giving to all work 
for both summer and winter. 

When our winter friends returned, they found the 
claims enlarged and the ground occupied. They made 
a few efl'orts to jump our claims, but used no violence, 
for it was miner' s law, and they had to submit. We 
worked every day, unless it rained, from sunrise to 
sunset, excepting Sundays, when we did our market- 
ing and washing, this not being considered as work- 
ing. 

When we first came to Ophir we lived in tents, cook- 



146 CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 

ing outside by a stump or log. Becoming dissatisfied 
we finally bought a log cabin, with a canvas roof and 
Missouri chimney. It was situated in a small valley 
surrounded by low lying hills, and near a cold spring 
of never failing water. The low, wide-branching oak 
trees scattered here and there, with the green lawn, 
marred by no underbrush, reminded us strongly of 
the luxuriant api^le orchards of the states. It was 
truly a pleasant place to live in, and here we were 
visited by a great many Cayuga county people, many 
of whom remained in our camp until they could ob- 
tain a good position. The town of Ophir was but a 
short distance from us. It was like many other Cali- 
fornia towns, small, with two hotels, two gambling 
houses, plenty of supply stores, and some residences. 
Gambling was as public as the selling of goods and 
groceries. As all stores sold whiskey, they became 
a general rendezvous for the gamblers, who did noth- 
ing but drink, gamble, and occasionally fight. Miners 
they studiously avoided. 

I remember one day, being in a store purchasing 
apples and supplies, hearing a great noise up the 
street, I looked out and saw from ten to fifteen gam- 
blers rush excitedly out of the gambling houses, each 
with a revolver in his hand, and all threatening to 
shoot. I hurried around the corner of the store and 
cautiously looked out to see the fun. It happened, 
however, that there was no shooting. I did not think 
until it was all over that the house behind which I 
was so safely concealed, had only canvas sides and 
that I might as well have been on the street as behind 
it, as far as safety Avas concerned. 

One time I was one of a lynch jury in trying a man 
for robbery. Being found guilty he was sentenced to 



CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 147 

be bung, the Jury intending to thoroughly frighten 
liim and obtain a confession and the gold, but not to 
take his life. Not securing either gold or confession 
we released him, giving him so many hours to leave 
the ravine. Not going, he was retaken near the town, 
and received a severe whipping on the bare back. 
There was no question but that he committed the rob- 
bery, taking from an old man all his hard earned 
money, amounting to $400, which 1 am glad to say 
was made \\]} to him again by contributions of the 
miners. Generosity was a never failing characteris- 
tic. If a man was sick, needy or in want, there was 
no difficulty in raising funds to assist him, all classes 
giving freely and willingly. For instance, there was 
one poor fellow, a Cayuga county man, who had been 
at our camp for many weeks sick, and indeed was 
nothing but a skeleton of his former self. Finally he 
made up his mind to come home if he could obtain 
the money. He started on a begging tour through the 
town, raising before night sufficient money to take 
him home as a cabin passenger. The result was he 
found it so i^roiitable that he went into it as a specu- 
lation. After obtaining several hundred dollars he 
started for home, but vonly reached the isthmus where 
he died. 

We gave little attention to our dress, wearing only 
the plainest, our better clothing being left in San 
Francisco. At one time, having been appointed a del- 
egate to a county convention, the question arose 
whether I should go in my mining suit or store 
clothes. The latter being determined upon as the 
most fitting, I was puzzled to know where to find 
them, but at last decided that the only way was to 
borrow from cme and another until the suit was com- 



148 CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 

plete. I was obliged to call upon live different parties 
before my outfit was entirely satisfactory. 

I remained in the big Auburn ravine until my re- 
turn home in 1853. Barker left our party a year be- 
fore. Rundell and Hughitt also returned to the 
states. Rundell afterwards crossed the plains with a 
drove of cattle, becoming very successful on a ranch. 
I know of no one in our party who became suddenly 
rich, or who made a fortune in three or four years. 
We shall find that some of those who started with us 
have never returned, some have died and others have 
wandered into far distant countries. 

Little do people realize, in these days, when one 
week of travel will carry them to the " Golden Gate," 
how, but a few years ago, there was no great system 
of railways with all their facilities for ease and com- 
fort, but that weeks, even months must elapse before 
they reached the promised land. 

It is now thirty-four years since the Belvidere sailed 
out of the harbor of New York with her hopeful ad- 
venturers. 

If today there should be a roll-call of the seventy- 
nine who joined the Cayuga joint stock company, 
twenty-nine at least would be reported dead. They 
are Walter W. Tuttle, D. C. Richardson, George H. 
White, Asa Strong, Oapt. Samuel Barney, James F. 
Cain, Wm. Everts, D. C. Lum, S. B. Wooden, Geo. 
H. Preston, Robert Y. Patty, Jas. W. Ells, Wm. 
Jenkins, J. C. Nelson, Moses W. Lyon, Asher Mark- 
ham, E. A. Mills, Volney Hewitt, A. F. Phelps, T. F. 
Greves, Henry Fitch, Charles H. Stewart, N. S, Ben- 
son, Charles Sheppard, S. A. Page, John T. Rundell, 
and P. W. Fisher of the Cayuga boys, and Edwin 
Jones and H. J). Allen of Wayne county. Fifty- 



CAYUaA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 149 

three of the company were from Cayuga county. Of 
these, only seven are known to be living in our midst, 
as follows : John Choate, G. W. Richardson and 
Lawrence White of Auburn, John P. Yawger of 
Mentz, H. C. Hall of Aurelius, S. D. Mills of Weeds- 
port and Weston A. Ogden of Kings Ferry. Two 
others are known to be residing in the state, the presi- 
dent, W. W. Sheppard, at Waverly, and Nelson 
Fitch at Albany. Franklin Holmes is in Wisconsin, 
G. L. Mead in Deadwood, N. S. Clark in Illinois and 
Oscar B. Munson in Denver. Eighteen, if living, are 
in Calif oi'nia and Oregon. They are J. H. Stearns, W. 
S. Lyon, J. G. Kellogg, R. Forbush, Jr., John B. 
Stowe, E. S. Sayles, Chas. H. Moss, T. M. Gardner, 
M. Hering, G. K. Godfrey, H. T. Graves, A. J. Haight, 
M. L. Remington, Edward G. Stearns, T. M. Barker, 
Wm. Stark, J. W. Jenkins and Dr. W. A. Grover. 

Of the remaining eighteen nothing is known by the 
writer. They are A. W. Stratton, W. D. Farrand, S. 
D. Suits, Daniel Krini, Josiali Davis, N. Barnes, A.J. 
Travis, Charles S. Putnam, W. M. Eddy, Eugene L. 
Finch, G. W. Tallman, Thomas Hunter, Benj. D. 
Stevens, A. B. Northrup, L. Mason, M. B. Scott, 
John H. Gantley, L. F. Fenner and Coffin Gardner. 
I have said that it is thirty-four years since the ''For- 
ty-niners" sailed in the Belvidere. It is a long period 
in the life of an individual. 

We were boys then, with our hearts filled with 
bright dreams and golden hopes. But now gray hairs 
and failing sight, and many other signs remind us 
that youth has long since passed. These thirty-four 
years have been eventful in the Avorld' s history. Won- 
derful have been the changes in our own country. 
And when the historian shall record them, and trace 
out the agencies which contributed to their develop- 



150 CxVYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 

ment, it will be fomid that the gold mines and the 
gold miners of California were important factors. 

List of members of the Cayuga Joint Stock Com- 
pany : 

Auburn — Wm. W. Slieppard, lawyei- ; Wm. Stark, 
blacksmith ; J. H. Stearns, hardware dealer ; T. L. 
Barker, merchant clerk ; George H. White, bookbind- 
er ; A. Strong, baker ; Lawrence White, harness 
maker ; Franklin Holmes, painter ; J. W. Jenkins, 
mason ; John Choate. tinsmith ; Chas. H. Stew^art, 
merchant clerk ; M. W. Lyon, moulder ; George W. 
Richardson, cabinet-maker ; DeWitt C. Richardson, 
cabinet-maker ; Nelson Fitch, merchant clerk ; Henry 
Fitch, merchant clerk ; xl. J. Haiglit. jeweller ; J. C. 
Nelson, carpenter ; W. S. Lyon, merchant ; J. G. Kel- 
logg, merchant ; T. P. Grieves, book-binder ; Hiram 
T. Graves, nursery-man ; R. Forbutsh, Jr.. cabinet- 
maker ; H. C. Hal], book-dealer ; Oscar D. Munson, 
dentist ; Wm. W. Tuttle, carpenter ; G. K. Godfrey, 
carpet-dealer ; J. W. Ells, printer ; N. S. Benson, 
mason ; Wm. Jenkins, tailor. 

Genoa — H. S. Clark, Mexican service ; M. L. Rem- 
ington, machinist ; W. A. Ogden, farmer and specula- 
tor ; D. C. Lum, carpenter ; S. B. Woodin, merchant 
clerk ; N. Barnes, farmer ; John Rundle and Volney 
Hewitt, farmers. 

Moravia — G. L. Meade, farmer. 

Weedsport— J. F. Cain, merchant clerk ; F. Mills, 
tinner ; Wm. Evarts, painter ; S. J). Suits, merchant 
clerk ; S. K. Page, sailor ; Daniel Krim, sailor ; Sam- 
D. Mills, tinner. 

Springport — John P. Yawger, farmer. 

Aurelius— Chas. Moss, farmer. 

Port Byron — Wm. D. Farrand, painter ; G. W. 
Tallman, mariner. 



CAYUGA JOINT STOCK COMPANY. 151 

Conquest — Tlios. Hunter, farmer. 

Cato — Captain Samuel Barney, farmer, formerly 
whaleman. 

Sennett — A. F. Phelps, farmer. 

Wayne County — E. S. Sayles, Little Sodus, hotel 
keeper ; E. L. Finch, Clyde, carpenter ; Ed. Jones, 
Clyde, druggist clerk ; George H. Preston, Red Creek, 
merchant ; Robt. W. Petty, Little Sodus, farmer ; H. 
D. Allen, Lyons, merchant clerk ; John B. Stow, 
Clyde, merchant clerk ; A. W. Stratton, Clyde, car- 
penter. 

Onondaga County— Chauncey A. Markham, assay- 
er ; W. A. Grove, physician, of Syracuse ; Wm. M. 
Eddy, Jordan, hardware clerk ; P. W. Fisher, tinner ; 
M. D. Scott, cooper ; J. D. Travis, of Jordan, Benj. 
D. Stevens, shoemaker, of Blbridge ; Josiah Davis, 
Elbridge, grave stone cutter; A. B. Northrup, El- 
bridge, clothier; Mark Herring, Marcellus, paper 
maker. 

Ludlowville, Tompkins county— L. F. Fenner, tailor. 

Utica— Chas. S. Putnam, cabinet maker, N. Y. city, 
Ed. G. Stearns, milkman, John H. Gantley, ship- 
chandler. 

Canton — Leonard Mason, merchant. 

Factory ville, Tioga Co.— Chas. Sheppard, farmer 
and artist. 

Nantucket— Jared M. Gardner, first mate ; Coffin 
Gardner, second mate ; farmers, formerly whalemen. 

Sailors who were employed by the company— Hen- 
ry Swain, third mate, Nantucket ; Levi Courtright, 
Red Creek ; Messrs. Johnson, New York city ; Cain, 
Weedsport ; Hopkins, New York ; Rockwell, Am- 
sterdam ; Huntington, N. Y. ; cook, Mr. Reed, N. Y. 

Ladies, passengers— Mrs. Barney, Mrs. Swain, Mrs. 
Gardner, Mrs. Mills and daughter. 



BIOCxRAPHY OF GEN. FLEMING 

A Paper read before the Cayuga County Historical Society, 
June 12th, 1S8S. 

BY C. M. BAKER. 



BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL FLEMING 



The town of Fleming in Caynga county was named 
after George Fleming, a captain in the revolutionary 
war, called by courtesy General Fleming, who settled 
in the town which now bears his name towards the 
close of the last century. 

He was not in any sense a great man ; he performed 
no acts and expressed no thoughts which distinguished 
him above his fellow men ; and we are only interested 
in him because his name is given to one of our towns, 
and because his life was a fair example of the life of a 
pioneer of this region. 

As no biography was ever written of him, and he 
has no descendants living among us, and his associ- 
ates have all been dead many years, few facts in re- 
gard to his life can be ascertained. It is not even 
known where he was born, who his family were, or 
how he passed his earlier years. It is said, however, 
that he was of Scotch ancestry, and that his relatives 
settled in Connecticut, near the line between that 
state and New York. 

General Fleming was born in 1748, and was conse- 
quently twenty-seven years of age in the year in 
which the revolutionary war commenced. There are 
two circumstances which indicate that he had not been 
long in this country at that time. First — The iirst 
deed from him which is recorded in this state de- 



156 BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL FLEMING. 

scribes liim as George Fleining of Orange ronnty, 
without naming any town as liis residence, which 
would indicate tiiat he had acquired no fixed resi- 
dence in this country up to the date of that deed, 
wliich was in 1790. Second — Tlie fact that he seldom 
recorded his deeds indicates that he had been brought 
up in a country where it was not customary to have 
evidences of title recorded. 

We hear nothing of General Fleming until the 
organization of the regiment sometimes known as the 
New York Regiment of Artillery, sometimes as the 
2nd N. Y. Artillery, but oftener as Col. Lamb's regi- 
ment. That regiment was organized in 1 777, to take 
the place of a regiment formerly commanded by 
Colonel, (afterwards General) John Lamb, which had 
been the First New York artillery ; composed of men 
who were enlisted for short terms ; most of whom 
were captured at Quebec ; after which the regiment 
was never gathered together again, as the terms of 
most of the men exx>ired before they were exchanged 
for British prisoners. The new regiment was com- 
posed of several companies enlisted in the Hudson 
river country, one company enlisted near Bordentown, 
New Jersey ; and two (jompanies of Connecticut vol- 
unteers who were turned over by that state to New 
York in view of the nation's need of artillery men, 
although they had not been enlisted for the artillery 
service. General Fleming was probably among those 
Connecticut volunteers. He became a captain of one 
of the companies and served with the regiment until 
the close of the war, except during a short time while 
he was a member of the staff of General DuPortail. 

The regiment was not often engaged in very active 
service, but was posted in the Hudson Highlands sev- 



BIOGRAPHY OF (lENERAL FLEMING. 157 

eral years doing garrison duty. Two of its companies 
were detached to accompany Sullivan's exi)edition, 
but General Fleming remained with the other part of 
the regiment at that time in garrison, and in Septem- 
ber, 1779, he had the honor of presiding over a trial 
by court martial at West Point. 

An orderly book kept by Captain Fleming, now be- 
longing to the Cayuga County Historical society, 
shows that he and his companj" were posted at various 
places in the Highlands during all of the time which 
that record covers, which is a large i^art of the years 
1780 and 1781. Among other events which occurred 
during that time were the capture, trial and execution 
of Major Andre, of Avhom mention is made in the 
book. The date at which that record ceases, is proba- 
bly the time when Captain Fleming became a member 
of General DuPortaii's staff. General DuPortail 
commanded the artillery of the allied French and 
American armies at the siege of Yorktown. 

General Fleming participated in the march from 
New York to Virginia, and in the siege and capture of 
Yorktown; and he vvitnessed the surrender of Lord 
Cornw^allis and his army. 

It was probably while he was stationed in Orange 
county that General Fleming made the acquaintance 
of a little girl whom he afterwards married. Phebe 
Birdsye Yelverton, daughter of Anthony Yelverton of 
New Windsor, belonged to a family which had resid- 
ed in Orange county for several generations. Her 
grandfather, John Yelverton, was a large land owner 
in that county. She was nineteen years younger than 
Captain Fleming and was fourteen years of age when 
Yorktown surrendered. 

Little is known as to where General Fleming lived 



158 BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL FLEMING. 

or how lie was occupied from the close of the war un- 
til his removal to Cavuga county. The delay in al- 
lottinf^ bounty lands to the soldiers kept many of 
them in an unsettled state for years after the war 
closed, and Captain Fleming may have been waiting 
to realize upon his bount}^ lands before determining 
what to do. 

A large tract of land known as the Military tract 
was set apart for the New York soldiers. It included 
portions of Tompkins, Schuyler. Wayne and Oswego 
counties, and all of Cayuga, Seneca, Onondaga and 
Cortland counties except certain lands reserved for the 
Indians. It was surveyed, and laid out into town- 
sliijDs of 60,000 acres each. Every township had a 
name and number, and was divided into 100 lots of 600 
acres each. Every lot had a number. Township 
number eight was called Aurelius, and included the 
present city of Auburn and towns of Owasco and 
Fleming, and most of the towns of Sennett, Throop 
and Aurelius. The remainder of the present town of 
Aurelius was part of the East Cayuga Indian reserva- 
tion. The lots were selected by ballot. A soldier who 
drew a, lot could pay the snrves^ fees and receive a 
patent for the entire 600 acres, or he could have 550 
acres and allow the state to sell 50 acres for expense of 
the survey. 

The long delayed balloting took place in Septem- 
ber, 1790, and Captain Fleming drew as his portion 
lot No. 95 in the township of Aurelius, lot No. 6 in 
the township of Locke, and lot No. 16 in the township 
of Scipio. He paid the survey fees on the two first 
mentioned lots and received the entire lots, but proba- 
bly being in financial embarrassments by reason of the 
long delay, he sold his interest in lot No. 16 in Scipio 



BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL FLEMING. 159 

the same month of September, 1790, before it was de- 
termined who slioiild pay for the survey. The price 
was thirty pounds, or about twenty-five cents an acre. 
That lot is next north of the one on which ScijDio vil- 
lage stands, and is about eleven miles from Auburn. 
In September, 1793, Captain Fleming and Phebe, his 
wife, conveyed some land which had belonged to Mrs. 
Fleming's grandfather, by a deed which states Cap- 
tain Fleming's residence as Orange county, without 
giving the name of any town as his home. As this is 
the first recorded deed in which they joined, and the 
one in September, 1790. was from Captain Fleming 
alone, their marriage x^robably occurred between the 
dates of the two deeds. 

In 1796, Captain Fleming purchased some land in 
Newburgh b}" a deed which states his residence as 
AVest Point. Soon after that Cax)tain Fleming re- 
moved to Cayuga county and settled upon lot No. 95 
Aurelius, which was one of the three lots drawn by 
him. That lot is in the part of the old township of Au- 
urelius which now forms the town of Fleming. The 
south line of the lot is the town line between Fleming 
and Scipio, and the west line is about half a mile east 
from the town line of Springport. The road from 
Fleming village to The Square runs through it. Fam- 
ilies by the name of VanArsdale and Perry now occu- 
py portions of it. 

Captain Fleming's removal to that place must have 
seemed to his friends like an abandonment of civiliza- 
tion. Such roads as existed in the neighborhood were 
very poor and little travelled. The road through his 
farm was only laid out in 1795. The country was 
mostly covered with forests and was scarcely settled 
yet. The farm wasn't on the highway between any 



160 BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL FLEMING. 

large places. It is now on the main road between 
Auburn and Ithaca, but Auburn and Ithaca were then 
only beginning to show signs of becoming villages in 
the future. The nearest flouring mills were at Har- 
denburgh's corners and Ludlowville. There was a 
store at Aurora and three at Auburn, but no schools 
or churches in the neighborhood. Tliere was no news- 
paper published in the county, and tliere were no 
mails. A letter might be posted at Oswego or Fort 
Stanwix, each forty or fifty miles away, but there was 
no postoffice at Hardenburgli' s corners until 1800, and 
tlien the mail only arrived once a fortnight, but that 
was about eight miles from General Fleming's. Be- 
sides all that, the Indian reservation was only about 
half a mile from his farm, and that was a drawback, 
not only because the Indians were so near, but because 
there was a large tract of land withheld from settle- 
ment by the white men. 

The early settlers of that region were many of them 
people of intelligence and education, who would not 
live many years without the comforts and advantages 
of civilization. The roads about them were soon im- 
proved, schoolhouses and churches were built, com- 
fortable homes vv^ere created, and as early as 1801 
there was a postoffice at Scipio. and a weekly newspa- 
per was published at Watkins' settlement, about two 
miles south from G-eneral Fleming's, and another had 
been published at Levanna. In 1804 the mail at Harden- 
burgh's corners arrived semi- weekly, and soon the 
stages began to pass General Fleming's house. 

The first few years of life in the new country must 
have been years of hardshij). Roads had to be made, 
houses and barns built, lands cleared, wells dug^ 
fences laid, tools had to be brought from a distance. 



BIOGRAPHY OF GEISTERAL FLEMING. 161 

and crops carried a long vvaj^s to market ; laborers 
were scarce, and besides all that there was a feeling of 
insecurity on account of Indians and wild animals. 

The educated settler also had duties which do not 
devolve upon the farmer of tlie present day to any 
extent. He was frequently the surveyor for his neigh- 
borhood, the physician for his own family and ser- 
vants, and sometimes conducted i-eligious services 
among his friends and neigiibors. Po guard against 
some of the dangers and inconveniences of his neAv 
life, Gen. Fleming l)rouglit with him to his new home 
five dogs and seven negroes. Slavery had not been 
abolished in New York, and according to tradition his 
negroes were slaves, but the inventory of his estate 
does not show that he owned any slaves. He built a 
house somewhat in advance of his time, not such a 
house as we should expect to find in a forest at any 
time. It was a large, two- story frame house, with a 
wide hall running through the center of the main 
})art, with two good-sized rooms on each side of the 
hall, the one used as a jiarlor being 17 feet by 19. 
The rooms on the second floor corresponded with those 
on the first floor. There was an extension to the 
house in the rear, which contained the kitchen and 
woodshed. The house still stands. It is on the north 
side of the road from Fleming village to the Poplar 
Ridge road, a short distance northeasterly from its 
junction with the town line road between Scipio and 
Fleming. It has a row of poplar trees in front of it. 
The grounds surrounding it, and connected with the 
house were spacious, and were formerly well stocked 
with fruit. The style in which the place was kept, 
was such that it was spoken of in the newspaper no- 
tice of General Fleming's death as "his seat in this 



162 BIOGHAPIIY OF GENERAL FLEMI^^^r. 

town." An idea of the manner of General Fleming's 
life can be obtained from an inspection of his house 
and farm, and the inventory of his estate, on lih^ in 
Cayuga county surrogate's office, and from a knowl- 
edge of the people by whom he was surrounded. 

The inventory of his estate shows that he was not 
the owner of a single stove, not even a cook stove, 
but he owned several pairs of large bijiss andii'ons 
and a pair of brass-tipped andinms. Each of the 
four rooms on the first floor of the main part of his 
house contained a large open fire-place, so large that 
only a tall person could reach the articles standing on 
the high wooden mantle which overhung it, and as 
wood wa^ very plenty and very cheap, it was not diffi- 
cult to keep warm, and it was not extravagant to keep 
cheerful fires burning. The fire-place in the kitcli- 
en was so large that a man might have walked into 
it when it was not obstructed by tlie large crane, with 
the kettle hanging from it. The family baking was 
done in a large brick oven by the side of the fire- 
place. 

The house was lighted with candles, set in polished 
brass and plated-ware candle-sticks, and with one 
large oil lamp. It was carpeted, in which respect it 
differed from the liouses of some of the neighbors. 
The walls were ornamented with, engravings, and ;i 
map of the state of New York. 

The large dining table was of mahogany ; the other 
tables were of mahogiiny and cherry, but the most 
valuable piece of fui-niture in the house was the Gen- 
eral' s large side-board. He had also a fair supply of 
silver ware and decanters. Among other articles of 
furniture inventoried were a portable desk, a candle 
stand, a chest of dia%sers, a dozen Windsor chairs 
and a large easy chair. 



BIOGHAPIIY OF GEl^fERAL FLEMING. 163 

General Fleming's library would not be considered 
n large one in tliese times, but it was larger tlian those 
possessed by liis neigliboi's. Tlie titles of the books 
indicate his taste in reading, and also show what 
books were useful to a man living as he did. He un- 
doubtedly studied war as a science, for among his 
books were The Art of War, RuL's and Articles of 
War, System of Discipline, Bteuben':< Exercise, Field 
Engineei', Vaughn s Fortihcation, ]'d;:ller on Fortitica- 
tion and Artillery, M. DeBland on Defense of Places, 
Syme"s Military Guide, and Smythe's regulati(ms for 
ye army. 

He also had a number of historical and biographical 
works, including Washingtcm's Letters, Washington's 
Enistles, Ramsav's Washinsi'ton, History of the War 
History of America, History of Kentucky, Flowers of 
History, French Revolution, Life of the Queen of 
France, Life of General Moreau. Life of Bonaparte. 
His medical books were: Buchan's Domestic Medi- 
cine, Wallis on Diseases, Cullen's Practice, and 
Hedge's Strictures on Brown's P]lementary Medicine. 
Among his religious works were Barclay's Aj)ology, 
Addison's Evidences. Watt's Psalms, Sterne's Ser- 
mons, The American Preacher, The Gospel its own 
Witness, Beauties of the Bible, and Pilgrim's Prog- 
ress. Among his miscellaneous books were : An En- 
cyclopaedia in eight volumes. The Constitution of the 
United States, Laws of the State of New York, two 
volumes, Farmers Assistant. Fisher's Companion, 
Jones" Fireworks, a volume of logarithms, Locke's 
Essays, Seneca's Morals, Zimmerman on Solitude, 
Morse's Geography, two volumes, a French Grammar, 
French and English Dictionary, three English Dic- 
tionaries, Mair's Book-keeping, six volumes of the 



164 BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL FLEMING. 

New York Magazine, Thomson's Seasons, Don Quix- 
ote, Paul and Virginia, and quite a number of works 
of fiction not read at this time. Among other articles 
appearing in the inventory are one rifle, one fowling 
piece, one pocket pistol, two swords, belt and dagger 
case, one box of surveyor's instruments, compass and 
chains, old French watch. 

The live stock inventories consisted of four horses, 
two yoke of oxen, live cows and twenty other cattle, 
one hundred and thirty sheep, twenty-six hogs and 
pigs. 

The crops inventoried were wheat, corn, potatoes, 
buckwheat and hay. 

The farming implements included two wooden 
plows, four iron pitchforks, a ditching machine, a fan- 
ning mill and a set of drag teeth. He also owned two 
two-horse wagons, one old coach, one cart, one cutter, 
two men's saddles and one side saddle. In the first 
years of his life in this county, he and Mrs. Fleming 
probably did most of their traveling on horse back. 

General Fleming's family consisted of his wife and 
two sons, one of whom was named after his old com- 
mander-in-chief, George Washington Fleming, the 
other after the chief of the American artillery, Hen- 
ry Knox Fleming. They both lived at home until the 
death of their father. Henry had an unfortunate ap- 
X)etite for strong drink, and became an habitual drunk- 
ard. G-eorge probably worked his father's farm on 
shares, as the general's interest in the crops invento- 
ried was an undivided half. 

John Yelverton who was probably Mrs. Fleming's 
brother, purchased a farm very near the Fleming' s in 
the toAvn of Scipio, and although he sold out after a 
few years and moved to Manlius, he was sometimes at 



BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL FLEMING. 165 

the Fleming's residence after his removal. He was 
there after the general's death, and assisted Mrs. 
Fleming in inventorying the estate by acting as one of 
the appraisers. 

The Fleming s relations with their neighbors were 
pleasant. Among their near neighbors were Captain 
Edward Wheeler, whose biograjjhy has been read to 
this society, Reuben Doty, Nathaniel Adams, Law- 
rence V. Suydam, Gen. Joseph Pettits, Orange Wil- 
kinson and Elijah Perry, most of whom have descend- 
ants in this county. They also maintained social re- 
lations amounting to intimacy with a few families in 
Auburn, such as the families of David Horner, David 
Brinkerhoff, Hugh Watson and George Leitch, the 
latter of whom was in some way related to them, or 
connected with them b.y marriage. General Fleming 
came to the backwoods for the purpose of leading a 
retired life. Although the town of Aurelius elected 
in some years over eighty town officers, including six- 
ty highway commissioners and pathmasters, it does 
not appear from the election rejjorts, recorded in the 
town record book, that he was ever elected to an of- 
fice, or that he was ever a candidate for one. He was 
not ever elected to any state or county office either. 

But although not an office holder, he was active in 
the discharge of the duties of a good citizen, and took 
an interest in matters tending to promote the jDublic 
welfare. He was a member of the Cayuga Agricul- 
tural society, organized in 1818. He was occasionally 
charged with the execution of trusts by the surro- 
gate's court of this county, the most important of 
which was the general guardianship of George F. 
Leitch, then the richest infant in the county. As his 
ward's property consisted largely of real estate the care 



166 eio(;kapiiy of (^enkkal flp:ming. 

of it was a considerable responsibility. Together with 
iSamnel Cumpson and David Brinkerliotf, he was an 
administrator of the estate of George Leitch, de- 
ceased. The administrators were required to give a 
bond for !j>l 20,000, wliich was a very large amount for 
any one in Cayuga county to give a bond for in that 
time. The fact that they could give such a bond and 
the charactei' of the men who signed it, shows the es- 
timation in which they were held in the community. 
The sureties on the bond wei'e Mi-. .lehiel Clark, after 
whom Clarksville is named. John H. Hardenburgh, 
Judge Jose[)h L. Richardson, Hon. xS^athaniel Clarrow, 
M. C. and Matthew Bevier, a son-in-law of old Col. 
Hardenburgh. 

The newspa].)er account of Ueneial Fleming pub- 
lished shortly after his death, says that upon the 
outbreak of the war with Great Britain in 1812, Gen- 
eral Fleming was among the first to offer his counsel 
and assistance to the government, and that he ren- 
dered valuable sei'vices during the war, but does not 
state what the services were. Judge Hall, whose re- 
searches in local history have been very extensive, is 
authority for the statement that he received an ap- 
pointment of some kind from the governor of this 
state, and was at one time in command of the fort at 
Oswego. The appointment was perhaps onlj' tempo- 
rary, or may have required a contirmation from the 
senate, wdiicli it did not receive, as his name does not 
appear in the lists of officers in the militia records at 
Albany. In course of time General Fleming began to 
sell his land, and probably used the proceeds of the 
sale in improving his home. Tn April, 1812, Mrs. 
Fleming's father having died, she and her husband 
conveyed the land which she inherited from him in 



BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL FLEMING. 167 

New Windsor, to John D. Nicholl, wlio in the same 
year purchased j)^^ of General Fleming's land in 
Newbiirg. In 1812 they sold fifty acres of land in 
Locke for $225, or $4.50 an acre. In 1813, they sold 
100 acres in Locke for $412.50. In 1814 they sold 
about 157f acres on lot No. 95, Aurelius for $3,626 to 
Orange Wilkinson. In 1815 they sold to Elijah Perry 
about 50| acres on lot 95, Aurelius, for $1,317.71 and 
in the same year they sold 15 acres lot No. 88, Aure- 
lius, for $25. There is no deed for that piece of land 
to Gen. Fleming recorded, and that was probably on- 
ly a deed for the purpose of making their boundary 
line certain. In 1820 they sold 15 acres on lot 95, Au- 
relius, to Elijah Perry for $450, or $30 an acre. Gen. 
Fleming died October 1st, 1822, in his 74tli year, at 
his home, and his funeral which took place on the 3d 
of October was a notable event in the annals of the 
neigliborhood. The funeral procession which starred 
from his home at 2 o'clock p. m., included an escort of 
two companies of soldiers. Captain Lewis' company of 
dragoons, and Captain Wheeler's grenadiers, under 
command of Colonel Richardson. General Fleming's 
horse and military accoutrements were in the proces- 
sion. The pall 'oearers were eight revolutionary vet- 
erans. Major B. J. VanV^alkenburgh, the most promi- 
nent revolutionary soldier in the county, was the most 
notable person who took part in the services. The 
Auburn bells were tolled from two o'clock until sun- 
down, and a cannon was tired at intervals during the 
same time, on Fort Hill. About three miles from the 
village on tlie road from Fleming ro Aubui-n, the pro- 
cession was joined by Col. Brinkerhott" with the offi- 
cers of the local ndlitia regiment in full uniform, and 
Captain Fitch's Auburn guards, and Captain Diirs- 



168 BIOfiRAPITY OF aENKKAL FLP^MING. 

ton's artillery. A large body of citizens joined the 
procession on the South street road, about half a mile 
from Auburn. The procession marched to St. Peter's 
church, and from thence, after appropriate services, to 
the North street cemetery, where the xluburn guards 
tired a volley over the grave. 

By his will. General Fleming gave his farm to Mrs. 
Fleming in lieu of dower. He gave to his son George 
the undivided one-half of 500 acres in Locke and one 
acre in Scipio, and lands in Newburg and New Wind- 
sor. With regard to his son Henry, be said: "I 
give and bequeath to my executors hereinafter named, 
in trust foi- my beloved son Henry Knox Fleming, the 
one equal undivided half part of all the lands above 
devised to my son George ; but in case my beloved 
but unfortunate son, Henry Knox, should at any time 
after my death, become, in the opinion of my execu 
tors hereinafter named, capable of managing his own 
affairs in a decent and prudent manner, then and in 
that case, I do authorize my executors to transfer the 
property above devised to his own use, over to him, 
his heirs and assigns forever." The executors named 
in the will were Mrs. Fleming, George W. Fleming, 
David Brinkerhoff and Joseph L. Richardson. Mr. 
Brinkerhoff' s death preceded General Fleming' s about 
three months. The other three persons named admin- 
istered the estate. Shortly after General Fleming's 
death the family removed to Auburn, where Mrs. Flem- 
ing purchased a house and lot on East Genesee street. 
The house was a small one, and stood a few feet back 
from the street on the westerly part of the premises 
now occupied by H. V. Howland, esq. It was removed 
about 1868, to a lot further east on the same street. 
Mrs. Fleming's neighbors in this place were most of 



BIOGKAPHY OF GENERAL FLEMING. 169 

them people of education and intelligence and good 
social position. The neighborhood may have had 
some aristocratic pretensions. On the corner of East 
Genesee and Fulton streets in the house since occu- 
pied by Mr. Adam Miller, lived Mrs. Brinkerhofl, a 
daughter of Col. Hardenburgh, and the widow of 
General Fleming's intimate friend, David Brinkerhoff, 
who had been a man of large means. In the only 
house between them lived Gov. Enos T. Throoj). 
Around the corner of Owasco street, nearly in the 
rear of Mrs. Fleming's lot, lived Capt. Obed Folger, 
the uncle of the late secretary of the treasury. On 
the western corner of East Genesee and Owasco 
streets lived Col. Samuel Bellamy, a liberal and pub- 
lic spirited citizen, a part founder of the Bellamy and 
Edwards professorshi]) in the Auburn theological sem- 
inary. Next door to the westward lived Hon. Rich- 
ard L. Smith, master in chancery, and district attor- 
ney of this county. On the eastern corner of Gene- 
esee and John streets the Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, pas- 
tor of the First Presbyterian church, resided. In the 
house now occupied by Dr. Forman, lived Mr. Coiirad 
TenEyck, an instructor of young men, and between 
them lived tlie maternal grandparents of Dr. Frank 
H. Hamilton, who attended President Gariield. Here, 
surrounded by agreeable neighbors, Mrs. Fleming re- 
sided for about fifteen years. Slie enjoyed the esteem 
of the community, to many members of which, not 
her relatives, she was known as " Aunt Fleming.'' 
Her acquaintance was not limited to the persons re- 
siding near her ; among her most trusted friends were 
Colonel Harvey Rhoades of Sennett and James S. Sey- 
mour, esq., of Auburn, whom she named as the exec- 
utors of her will. Henry Knox Fleming resided with 



170 BIOGRAPHY OF OEWERAL FLEMING. 

liis mother until his death, Avhicli occurred before 
hers. He studied law, but he never reformed his 
liabits, which became so much worse that it finally 
became necessary to liave a committee appointed over 
him. 

George W. Fleming removed to Junius, Seneca 
county, and from there to Syracuse, where he is said 
to have died unmarried. Mrs. Fleming had the soi- 
row to see him follow in his brothers evil course. 
Such of his land in Locke as he had not previously 
sold was sold by the sheriff on an execution against 
him, Mrs. Flendng becoming the purchaser. Mrs. 
Fleming sold her farm in 1823 for *0,7(H) to Eman- 
uel D. Hudson, who afterwards sold it to a Mr. V^an 
Arsdale. The VanArsdale family have resided on it 
ever since. In 1837 Mi-s. Fleming purchased the 
house next east of the First Presbyterian church on 
P^'ranklin street, to which she removed. She died 
there in June, 1838, and was buried beside her hus- 
band in North street cemetery. In the minds of many 
of our elder citizens who knew Mrs. Fleming in their 
childhood, a pleasant recollection of her has survived 
her for half a century. 



THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES, 

WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE EAKEV TAVERNS 
OV AUBURN AND VlCINUrV. 



A Paper read keeoke the Cayuga County Historicai. Society, 

NOVEMHEK ITth, 1S84. 

BY B. B. SNOW. 



THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES, 

WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY TAVERNS 
OF AUBUKN AND VICINITY. 



Tlie burning of the St. James, formerly the Ameri- 
can Hotel, on the 26tli of March last, was an event in 
local history, which is worthy of record. The Ameri- 
can was the connecting link between the primitive inn 
or tavern of our forefathers and the hotel proper of 
modern times. It was a distinct institution of its kind 
in our community, which had many cherished associa- 
tions, especially for the generation immediately pre- 
ceding our own. But such associations were with 
tlie Americciii, and the St. James did not inherit them. 

When the hotel was purchased by Mr. Anthony 
Shimer, in 1870, the name was changed to the St. 
James. Why the name "American" should give 
place to "St. James" rather than to the api)arently 
more apposite pseudonym ' ' St. Anthony, ' ' or why it 
should have been changed at all, may at this day ex- 
cite inquiry. But it was the result of far-sighted bus- 
iness sagacity. Hotel names are not exempt from the 
requirements of fashion. The name " American, " as 
applied to hotels, had become passe, was "off color." 
' ' American hotels ' ' throughout the country were re- 
puted as second class. Eurojjean styles were coming 
into favor, and St. Nicholas, St. Denis, St. Charles, St. 
James, and the like, in the absence of personal or 



174 THE BURNING OF THE ST. .JAME8. 

proprietary names, were taking the lead. So the 
*• American" succumbed to the supposed i^opular pre- 
judice of the travelling public. 

The St. James, as the American Hotel, had many 
interesting historical associations. Its register could 
boast the names of distinguished native and foreign 
celebrities who had shared its hospitalities, and its 
halls had been the scene of many events of more or less 
k)cal importance. Here the great expounder of the 
constitution. Daniel Webster, supt and slept, vvheii 
journeying hither in a x)olitical campaign. It aifoi-ded 
a temporary refuge to the distinguished Hungarian 
patriot, Louis Kossuth, who came to appeal for aid to 
restore the lost cause of Hungary. From its portals 
the erratic Alvah Rude was unceremoniously ejected, 
eliciting from him the complacent remark that "he 
did not seem to be wanted there." In its halls, one 
of our business men of long standing, and still per- 
sistently active, thougli slenderly successful, com- 
menced his career in our community, by teaching a 
spelling school, composed of the untutored clerks and 
salesmen in our stores, aftei- closing hours in the win- 
ter evenings long ago. How many social and inoffen- 
sive games of whist have been played in its chambers, 
by magnates of the bencrh and bar, no record shows, 
none remains, except in the fading memories of a few 
who, in life's late afternoon, are rajiidly journeying 
down the sharp descent which leads to the undiscov- 
ered country. 

But I must not linger longer in the realm of fancy. 
History is relentless in its demand for facts. As so 
few facts relating to the American are obtainable at 
this day. I shall assume your permission to associate 
with mj central theme, such particulars as I have 



THE BUKNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 175 

been able to glean concerning kindred institutions, 
which bear upon the transition from the tavern or inn 
of a past generation to the hotel of today. 

I have found it not a little difficult to procure com- 
plete and satisfactory information upon my subject. 
The local journals of early dates, so far as I have se- 
cured access to them, are provokingiy barren of local 
news. Political discussions occupy by far the larger 
space in the newspapers of those days, while the col- 
umns where we should natui-ally ex})ect to find a rec- 
ord of events about home, are given ove]' to what, in 
our early school readers, were termed ''Didaciic 
Pieces.-' Nor has the tavern seemed to have been of 
sufficient importance to warrant deiinite mention in 
the early chronicles, or in the later compilations of 
tliose who have made researches into our early history. 
Not that the tavern was unimportant in its w;iy. O71 
the contrary, it seems to have been a kind of "stake 
and stones," a monument Avhich everybody knew and 
from which he could take his bearings to other points. 
For instance, June 3d, 1818, Richaid L. Smith adver- 
tises that '*he has removed to his new office two doors 
east of Huf man's Tavern, opjjosite Lynch' s Coffee 
House, and the Bank of Auburn." This is a little 
confusing to one who has known the staid Bank of 
Auburn for fifty years or more as identified with the 
red brick building nearly opposite State street. But 
the early settler solves the difficulty with the infor- 
mation that the Bank of Auburn was opened in 1817, 
in the brick building which was then Demaree's Tav- 
ern and is now the western part of the National 
Hotel building. March 19, 1820. Richard L. Smith 
and Parliament Bronson announce their co-partner- 
ship as ''Attorneys and Counsellors at Law," with 



176 THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 

their office "opposite Lynch's Coffee House, and two 
doors east of Hufman House,'' indicating that the 
bank had then sought other quarters, which was true. 
March 4, 1817, Garrow & Lynds, hatters, advertise 
their store, ''directly opposite Coe's Hotel. March 
21, 1826, Lynds & Carpenter, hatters, "opposite Hud- 
son's Hotel, advertise a dissolution of co-partnership, 
Carpenter & Bodley continuing the business. Car- 
penter's hat store, at the present day in the same 
location, identifies "Coe's Hotel" and "Hudson's 
Hotel" with the later Western Exchange. May 20, 
1824, Harvey Wilson advertises grave stones for sale, 
"a few doors east of the Auburn Center House." As 
Mr. Wilson was long identified with the store at the 
corner of Genesee street and Seminary avenue, the 
Center House is pretty accurately located by the 
advertisement, although no vestige of this once jDopu- 
lar inn now remains. 

Finding the records of the day so meager in facts, I 
have pieced out my information by inquiries of some 
of the earlier residents of our city, who still remain 
with us. And here I have not found entire concord 
of recollection, nor definiteness in detail. The memo- 
ry of the aged tiptoes around among important facts 
with the agility of a Highlander in the sword dance. 
The exasperating and continued presence of "Mr. 
What-was-his-name," in these interviews, tries the 
patience of the most complacent interviewer. 

By persistent eff'ort I have secured some facts which 
seem to me reliable and which I shall therefore pre- 
sent, well knowing that parties whom I have not seen 
and records which I have not found leisure to consult, 
could add largely to my imperfect sketch. I can only 
hox>e that what I x>i"tjsent may induce others, who 



THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES, 177 

liave further knowledge of the subject to make it 
public. 

Local histories are authorit}^ for the statement that 
Samuel Bristol opened the first public house or tavern 
in Auburn in the year 1795, in a log cabin on the 
northeast corner of Genesee and North streets. It 
seems to have run a short career as a tavern, for as 
early as 1805 it was vacant and for some time afforded 
temporary shelter to wayfarers. Tiia site was after- 
wards purchased by Eleazar Hills and occupied for a 
grocery store as early as ISlo. The next statement 
that I lind is to the effect that William Bostwick built 
a double log house on the north side of Genesee street 
on the site of the present Beach block in 1708, which 
he occupied with his family in 1799 and soon after 
ward opened as a tavern. I am positively assured l>y 
descendants of Mr. Bostwick that the latter part 
of this statement is erroneous. The house was built 
on the site of the present store, No. 97 Genesee street, 
but was never opened as a public house. The hospi- 
tality of the pioneers was proverbial, and the latch- 
string was always out to the wayfarer at the home of 
William Bostwick. This, coupled with the fact that 
he was rejjuted to have been an inn keeper, prior to 
the time of taking up his residence in Auburn, doubt- 
less gave rise to the statement. However, Mr. Bost- 
wick did build a ''new framed tavern " in ISOS-O-l, at 
the corner of Genesee and Exchange streets, which may 
justly be claimed as the pioneer institution of its kind 
in Auburn. It was large and commodious, ^vith ample 
barns, stables and sheds, ' 'affording good accommoda- 
tions for man and beast." On the 4th of July, 1805, 
the first public ball in Auburn was given in Bostwick' s 
Tavern, commencing at 3 p. m. and '"closing with the 



178 tup: burning of the st. .tames. 

approach of night ' ' in accordance with the notions of 
X)roj)riety of our ancestors. The celebrated Lafayette 
ball was also given here in 1825. Mr. Bostwick kept 
this tavern until Ma>' 1, 1816, when he was succeeded 
by Canlield Coe. The business of the house being 
prosperous, Mr. Coe enlarged it by quite an extension 
on Exchange street. He conducted the house for 
about eight years, w^hen he transferred it to Emanuel 
D. Hudson, who further enlarged and improved it, 
putting it in about the condition it was in its latter 
days. Mr. Hudson christened it the "Western Ex- 
change," which name it bore till 1868, when it gave 
place to the three stores on the west corner of Ex- 
change and Genesee streets, and the post office block 
on Exchange street. Benjamin Ashby was the last 
proprietor. 

Next in importance, if not in the order of time, was 
the "Center House,'' which was located on the point 
of the fiat iron wiiere Genesee and Market (then Cen- 
ter) streets meet. This inn w^as begun by William 
Smith in 1805 and completed by David Horner in 1806, 
who conducted it about six years. Charles Reading 
bought it in 1812, and kept it about four years. I 
find a notice of an ordinance to build sidewalks, made 
by the village trustees, at a meeting held in Reading's 
Inn in 1815. In 1816, Silas Havvley was the proprietor, 
and to him succeeded Deacon Henry Amerman as 
appears by the following notice which I find in one of 
the papers of that period ; 

"TAVERN. 

"Henry Amerman, would inform his friends and 

the pubiick that he has purchased the tavern stand, 

lately occupied by Silas Haw ley, in the village of 

Auburn, near the bridge, and has opened it for their 



THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 179 

use as a pnblick house. From its central position, its 
large accomniodatious and his assiduous attention to 
the cares of those who call upon him, he hopes to 
merit the favours of his friends and the publick gen- 
erally. 

''No noisy rabbles will be allowed a place in liis 
house whereby the rest of the weary may be disturbed. 

"Liquors and other i-efreslimeiits of first quality 
will be furnished. 

"Auburn, Jan. 7, 1818.^" 

Deacon Amerman kept the inn till 1822, and was 
succeeded by Andrew Brown. Abijah Keeler adver- 
tises the "Center House" for sale or rent, April 23d, 

1828. The labt proprietor was Kodman Seargent, in 

1829, when it was bought by Ezekiel Williams, who 
built the block of stores now standing upon the site of 
the old inn. The building itself was removed to Ful- 
ton street, where it still stands and is occupied as a 
residence by William Lamey. This tavern seems to 
have been popular and well patronized in its day. 
Judge Richardson, in partnership with Enos T. 
Throop, opened their office here for the practice of 
law. The First Presbyterian Church Society was 
organized in the "long room^' of the Center House in 
1810, and the first Sabbath school for white children 
was organized in 1819, a similar school for colored 
children having been previously organized. I find a 
curious advertisement of Albert Hagerman, a barber, 
under date of February 10, 1818, to tlie effect that " as 
he wishes to attend Sunday school, he will attend cus- 
tomers until 9 p. M. Saturday evem'ng and until school 
commences Sunday morning, and not after." 

Next in order was the "Farmers Inn," which was 
built in 1801, and opened as a tavern in 1806 by Cap- 



180 THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES, 

tain (afterwards Beacon) Henry Amerman. This was 
the favorite resort of farmers, who were summoned to 
the village to attend court as jurors, witnesses, etc. 
Captain Amerman sold out to Mathias Hufman in 
September, 1816, and a little more than a year after 
became proprietor of the Center House. Hufman sold 
to Timothy Strong, and the property afterwards 
passed into the hands of Emanuel D. Hudson, who 
built the present brick structure known as the ' ' Rad- 
ney House," about the time tliat the freight depot of 
the Auburn & Syracuse R. R. Co. was located a few 
doors west — where the skaking rink now is. 

In 1808, a tavern was built on the south side of 
Genesee street about midway between Exchange and 
South streets, by Watrous Pomroy for Jonathan 
Russel. Mr. Pomroy opened it and kept it for about 
two years, when Capt. Robert L. Tracy bought and 
conducted it. In 1816 it was known as Powers' Tav- 
ern, and James C. Field locates his store as opposite 
thereto. Capt. Tracy died, and Zenas Goodrich, who 
was the proprietor of a tavern on North street, near 
the R. R. crossing, hereinafter mentioned, being a 
widower, united his fortunes with those of the widow 
Tracy, and thus became the proprietor of this house, 
which in the fall of 1816 took the name of "Goodrich 
Inn." January 6, 1818, Zenas Goodrich advertises 
for a "good steady sober man as a bar-keeper," 
which would indicate that special qualifications were 
required for this position even at that early day. In 
1824 it was known as John Griswold's Hotel, and 
Wilber Dennis locates his store three doors east of it. 
Holt and Curtis took the management in 1825, in 
which year the village trustees met there and ordered 
(^.ertain houses to be removed from the south side of 



THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES, 181 

Genesee street as being encroachments upon the 
street. I find a call under date of July 15, 1828, for a 
Republican caucus to meet at Ellsworth's Hotel, 
which I surmise means this house, although I have 
met no one who could inform me as to " Ellsworth' s 
Hotel." The management subsequently passed into 
the hands of several different parties, among whom 
were Harlow C. Witherell and Jonas White, Jr., and 
in 1835 gave way to make room for the present Ex- 
change Block. 

In 1810, Dewitt Clinton visited Auburn and in a 
letter giving some information as to the village, men- 
tions the fact that it contains four taverns. These, 
I suppose, were the three hereinbefore described, Bost- 
wick's, the Center House, the Farmers' Inn, and the 
Willard Tavern of which more hereafter. 

Coming down to a later date I find the following : 

''AUBURN COFFEE HOUSE. 

"The large white building on the hill a few rods 
east of the postofRce in this village, and but two doors 
from the Bank of Auburn, has lately been fitted up 
for the accommodation of the public. The subscriber 
has been at great expense to render his house commo- 
dious for the traveler. 

"Private rooms can be furnished for Ladies, Gentle- 
men and Families ; and no pains will be spared to 
make their sojourning comfortable. Order shall be 
preserved through the house. The out buildings are 
convenient and the stabling good. 

'^LAWRENCE LYNCH. 

"Auburn, Dec. 6, 1817." 

The Lynch Coffee House was what is now the east- 
ern part of the National Hotel. The Bank of Auburn 



182 THE HUKNTTs^r; of thk st. .iaaiks. 

was oj)ened in tlie brick building wliicli now loi-ni.s tlie 
western part of this Hotel. The bank must have been 
k:>cated here but a short time previous, as an election 
of directors was called to be held at the Westei'n 
Exchange Nov. 13, 1817. This brick building was 
known as Demaree's Tavern. I have been able to 
learn but little concerning it except that Mr. Demaree 
was too niuch of a Teuton to keep a Yankee Tavern. 
The house was better adapted for a boarding house 
than for a tavern and leaned rather to the order of a 
boarding house, especially in the later stages of its 
career. It nuist have been opened as a tavern but few 
years at most before the date of the location of the 
bank there, and was probably continued as a tavern 
up to 1836. \vh(?ri it passed into the hands of Saterlee 
Warden, who occupied it as a jjrivate residence. It 
continued a private residence up to 1854, when it was 
i^urchased by Mr. E. B. Parmelee and united with the 
old Parmelee Tavern, under the name of the National 
Hotel, which name it still bears. 

Smith &: Parmelee became the proprietors of the 
Lynch Coffee House, succeeding Brigham Fay about 
1829. Mr. Smith, (who was the Martin Smitli of the 
old tavern at the head of Owasco Lake, where the 
Cascade House now stands,) remained only a year or 
two, but Mr Parmelee conducted the house as Par- 
melee's Tavern until his death. This tavern was very 
popular, particularly with farmers. 

In the papers of this date I find next the following : 

•^ ENTERTAINMENT. 

"Allen Warden 

' ' Respectfully informs his friends and the public 
that he has removed to the village of Auburn, and 
has opened 



THE BUKIN-ING OF THE ST. JAMES. 1^^ 

A PUBLIC HOUSE 

in the white building, which is pleasantly situated near 
the State Prison, where he trusts his accommodations 
are such, his assiduity to please, together with a stock 
of excellent liquors well laid in, and moderate charges 
that he will merit and receive a share of public 

patronage. 

"N. B. A few genteel boarders will he accommo- 
dated on moderate terms. 
'^Auburn, Jan. 19. 1817." 

This was the old Prison Hotel, corner of State and 
Chappel streets, opposite the Prison gate. I am in- 
formed by one of his decendants that AYatrous Pom- 
rov opened the tavern and kept it the first year- ihis 
I think must be a mistake, for the house was built by 
Isaac Lvtle. who was contractor for building the 
Prison, and work upon this institution was not com- 
menced till the summer of 1816. The tavern and ad- 
ioining buildings were burned on Sunday evening 
'August 24, 1828, and in the next issue of the paper 
Mr T J Mc Master, Foreman, m beha.f of the hie- 
men attached to Engine No. 2^^ acknowledged the 
-attention of the Trustees and Fire Wardens of the 
village, the Hon. G. Powers and other citizens mpro- 
vidin- timely and necessary refreshments at the nre. 

The tavern was rebuilt, but lost its reputation and 
stood for some time unoccupied, when on another 
Sunday, some years ago, it slowly burned to the 
..round, the efforts of the liremen to extinguish the 
flames being apparently aimed to make the work of 
destruction more complete ^^ ,v rvr^t^l 

On thelopposite corner where the New 1 oik Centra 
PassengJ^^ Depot now stands, James Hickson, about 
ias.ea„e i or)ened the ''Bed Tavern: 

the same tinir-. otiiit ana opeueu luc 



184 THE BIJRNIXC OF THE ST. JAMES. 

a name which explains the significance of Mr. War- 
den's ''■ivhite buildiiuj.'^ while east of the Warden 
tavern, on the north side of Chapel street, adjoining 
the present railroad, was Thomas Hickson's tavern 
which has since continued to be kept as a public house 
and is now known as Saddler's Hotel. 

There seems to have been at an early date a tavern 
at the south-west corner of North and York streets, 
which was known as the Goodrich Inn, kept by Zenas 
Goodrich. In 1829. it was known as Champlain's 
Tavern. March 4, ]818, Zenas Goodrich advertises for 
sale, the well known farm and tavern stand, situate 
one mile and a half north of Auburn, on the old Gen- 
esee road, CNorth street, ) containing 84 acres of land, 
with stone qu:irry. A few rods beyonds tood another 
tavern on what is now the Sear s farm. Both have 
long since disappeared. 

I must not forget to mention the old Sexton tavern, 
which stood near the south-east corner of Genesee and 
Division streets, oj)posite the present works of the 
E. D. Clapp Manufacturing Co. May 14, 1817, John 
M. Daboll advertises that he has taken this tavern of 
Z. c^' D. Hall and locates it as three-quarters of a mile 
west of Auburn. Mr. Sexton seems to have occupied 
it as early as 1828, for the 158th Regiment is ordered 
to rendezvous at Sexton's Inn, September 10th of that 
year. 

In 1883, the Demaree block on Genesee street, near 
the entrance to Market street, was built, and in 
August 1839, the three stores in the center of the block 
were fitted up and opened as a hotel by Horace A. 
Chase, This was known as the Auburn House. It 
was for many years a popular house, its large and 
commodious assembly room making it an especial 



THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 185 

favorite with the dancing public. Jenny Lind patron- 
ized this house in her visit liere in 1851. About 1854 
it was abandoned as a hotel, and a school was opened 
there. It was burned in the winter of 1856, if I recol- 
lect right, and being refitted has since been occupied 
for stores. 

My record would be incomplete if I failed to men- 
tion the Bank Coffee House, located on Genesee street, 
some four or five doors west of the corner of State 
street. Here the Auburn Artillery are ordered to ren- 
dezvous July 16, 1828. Bacon & Maxwell are the pro- 
prietors. Here "the Old Line Mail, Pilot, Eagle and 
Telegraph Stages from the east, the Pilot and Tele- 
graph from the west, and the Ithaca, Homer and 
Canal coaches arrive and depart daily." 

Col. Wm. H. Seward, 33d Regiment Artillery, or- 
ders a court martial at the Bank Coffee House in May, 
1830. Mr. Seward seems to have been so faithful and 
deserving a soldier as to have secured promotion, for 
under date of February 19, 1825, I find an order of 
Col. Gridley, Wm. H. Seward, Adjutant, calling a 
meeting of the 158tli Regiment at the house of Azor 
Brown, which was situated on North street where the 
Columbian Block now stands. This house seems to 
have been a unique institution, peculiar to those days, 
part garden, part theatre, and part eating house. 
Here in 1820, the celebrated Edmund Kean played 
Othello. 

I must not neglect to call attention to the name of 
the "Bank Coffee House." At this time and for 
some years previous "Coffee House" was a favorite 
and innocent sounding synonym for tavern, and every 
place of any importance had one or more "Coffee 
Houses." 



186 THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 

I have thus sketched in brief, so far as I have been 
able to trace them, the houses of public entertainment 
in early Auburn. I resist the temptation to extend 
my researches beyond the village limits, for the reci- 
tal would weary your patience. I am told that there 
were no less than fifteen taverns within a radius of 
five miles of Auburn, exclusive of those witliin the 
corporate limits of the village. There were eight be- 
tween Auburn and Cayuga Bridge, in fact the famous 
Genesee Turnj)ike was literally lined with them. All 
the principal roads leading into the village were lone- 
some, if one could not find a tavern as often as once 
in three miles. What supported such a multitude of 
these houses ( Transient travel mainly. It was the 
period of migration and settlement. Emigrants on 
foot, on horseback, in wagons, poured in a steady and 
continual stream from the east to the tlien wilderness 
of Western New York and Ohio. Stages loaded with- 
in and without with prospectors or with, settlers, tore 
through the country at the rate of three or four miles 
an hour in ' ' good going ' ' and stopped at each tavern 
to water the horses, if for nothing more. 

Another important interest was teaming. Loads of 
merchandize, in transit from Albany to Buffalo and 
intermediate points, and returning cargoes of grain 
were constantly passing over the great turnpike. In 
the then condition of the turnpike, three, four, and 
often seven or eight horses were required to drag the 
loads over the heavy roads. At Reed's tavern, a 
short distance west of Auburn, as man}^ as one hund- 
red of these draft liorses v/ere often sta))led in a single 
night. Man and beast must be fed and sheltered, and 
the tavern rose to the emergency. Ti'ue, the income 
was not^ extravagant, a shilling for a '"meal,'" six- 



TJIE BUENINa OF THE ST. JAMES. 187 

pence for lodging, eighteen pence for stabling and 
• feeding the team, tliree cents for "three lingers of 
whisky," sixpence for a draught of bi-andy, was a 
slow process of accumulating a fortune, but the age 
of millionaires had not set in. 

When the canal was completed, the tavern became 
nervous and settled into a decline. When the railroad 
came thundering through, the tavern gave up in des- 
pair. The old stage coach was stored away in the 
shed and the grass grew green in front of tlie tavern 
where but yesterday the swift wheels of the coach 
raised clouds of dust. The numberless hosts from the 
old world were Hying through the land on swifter 
wheels. The'age of steam had dawned and the tavern 
of the early day had fuliilled its mission. 

For the benelit of those whose raemor}' does not ex- 
tend back to the palmy days of the rural tavern. I 
venture to desciibe one which is typical of all, as I 
remember it in its later days. 

A long two-story frame building, set Hush with the 
highway, with a "'stoop'* or platform extending the 
entire length, for convenience of getting into and out 
of the stage-coach. A door, midway of the long front, 
opens into a hall, which extends through tlie main 
building to the dining-room in the rear. At the left 
as you enter, a door leads to a plainly furnished la- 
dies' sitting room. Just beyond this door the stall's, 
leading to the ''long room," which usually comprised 
the entire second tioor of the main part. Opposite 
the door to the ladies' sitting room, a door from the 
hall leads to tlie bar-room, but an outside door, usually 
at the end of the house, is the more common entrance 
to this popular resort. On one side of this room a 
large open fire-place affords ample room for big blaz- 



188 THE BURNING OF THE ST.' JAMES. 

ing logs in winter. The bar in one corner exhibits de- 
canters labeled ''Whisky,'" ''Brandy," "Gin,'" 
"Rum,"" etc., in gilt letters. To add to the effect, be- 
tween the decanters of liqnoi-sare ranged glass cans of 
striped pex)permint, or red-tinted wintergreen candies, 
and lemons. The assortment is completed by a few 
clay pij^es, dull blue paper packages of fine-cut smok- 
ing tobacco, and perhaps on tlie top shelf one or two 
boxes of cigars, these latter only in later times. Ad- 
jacent to tiie tavern in rear, or across the way in front, 
stood the commodious barns, and ample sheds, under 
which any one might shelter his team and feed with- 
out cost, if he brought his own fodder. Prominently 
in front of the tavern was the well, with its wooden 
pumj) and pail for watering the horses of any who chose 
to avail themselves of the privilege. If the "lay of 
the land" admitted, as was not unf requently the case, 
the waters of a spring on a neighboring hill were en- 
ticed through pump-logs to the end of the long stooj) 
where a "pen-stock" poured the limpid water into a 
log trough set at a convenient height for watering a 
horse. Not unf requently three or four speckled trout 
would be imprisoned in this trough, so plentiful were 
they in our streams in the early days. One thing more 
must not be forgotten. In front was the sign post. 
This was a post some twelve feet in height, surmount- 
ed by an oblong or an elliptical sign-board, decorated 
usually with some kind of trimmings, and here ap- 
peared the name of the proprietor, "Canfielu Coe, 
Inn. '' Sometimes simply the proprietor' s name, some- 
times simply '"Tavern." Sometimes in black letters 
on a white back-ground, sometimes in gilt letters on 
a dark blue back-ground. Such was the tavern. 
The host of the tavern of early days is an extinct 



THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 189 

species. He was a man of character, and respected in 
his community. He neither desired, nor sought pro- 
motion outside the line of his woi'k. His aim in life 
was to make his guests comfortable and "keep tavern" 
well. He silently disappeared when the old-fashion- 
ed tavern gave way to the hotel. 

Who were the frequenters of the taverns in those 
days, aside from the transient guests ? Everybody, 
more or less regularly, who lived in the vicinity. Day 
time and evening during the dull season of winter, the 
oracle of the village occupied the best seat in front of 
the lire, and others were ranged around in the order 
of importance. The Ishmaelite usually stood leaning 
against the bar, or hanging on to the mantel over 
the lire-place, but rarely said anything unless spoken 
to. Politics were discussed, and crop prospects and 
local matters talked over. A game of chequers was 
usually in progress in some jjart of the room. When 
"the spirit moved,'' one would approach the bar and 
take his bitters, drawing from the depths of his pock- 
et the required three coppers to pay the exjjense. 
Then he resumed his seat or went home. He rarely 
asked anybody to drink with him. It was a free show 
and any one was at liberty to buy his own whisky. 

Was there as much drunkenness in those days as at 
present "i Upon this point opinions differ — the weight 
of the evidence seems to be that there was not. The 
tavern had not become a resort for drinking, saloons 
were unknown. Still every household had a supply 
of liquors. A barrel of whisky was regarded essential 
to the campaign of haying and harvesting, as much so 
as a mower and reaper is to-day. Nearly everyone 
drank more or less, but the number who drank to ex- 
cess was limited. With the decline of patronage from 



190 THE BUKiSrmG OF THE ST. JAMES. 

teaming and staging, resulting from the completion of 
the canal, the taverns which continued in operation 
were forced to resort to vaiious devices for keeping up 
their income. Dancing parties became more fi'equent, 
a,nd at these and other gatherings immoderate drink- 
ing was rather encouraged, especially at taverns of 
waning fortunes. The natural result was the agitation 
of the Temperance question. On the 2d of April, 
1828, a number of citizens of a neiglil)oring village 
met ' ' according to previous agreement for the purpose 
of considering whether anything can be done for the 
supi)ression of vice and immorality, and particularly 
intemxjerance." ''After much discussion a committee 
was appointed to draft resolutions," which were re- 
ported and adopted. The first was as follows : 

''Resolved, That we will not use distilled spirits as 
a fashionable beverage, or suffer them to be used in 
our families or by our workmen, unless it shall ap- 
pear to be necessary for the preservation of health." 

A prominent physician being a member of the com- 
mittee, perhaj)s accounts for the saving clause in the 
resolution. 

I liave adverted to the dancing parties of early days 
•j-iven at the Tavern. I would not be understood that 
these were always scenes of dissii)ation. On the con- 
trary, public dances in those days were quite the 
tiling, and our best citizens did not hesitate to coun- 
tenance and take part in them. Particularly in our 
rural taverns the entire neighborhood turned out to 
these festivities. The fourth of July was a favorite 
day for a ''ball." Carriages would come streaming 
up to the tavern by noon, and early thereafter the 
"long room" would be a place of gayety which often 
continued until sunrise of the following da v. These 



THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 191 

were not ^''Germans,'' but old fashioned, solid dances, 
'' Monie Miisk,^^ '" Scoich Reel,'' and later the staid 
Cotillions interspersed with " The Tempest,''' " Span- 
ish Dance,'' etc. The lady or gentlemen who conld 
not spring at least a foot from the lioor and ' ' cut a 
pigeon wing/' was not counted an expert. 

The following notices which I clip from a journal 
of the early days will bring back pleasant raemoiies 
to some of our older residents. 

"MR. ANDREWS' PUBLIC. 
''Mr. John C. Andrews j-espectfully informs the 

LADIES AND GENTLEJMEN of Auburu that his fil'St 

Public will take place on Thursday, the 2()th inst., at 
the Western Exchange, at 6 o'clock p. m. 

i:^^ Parents and Gruardians are respectfully invited 
to attend. 

"Auburn, 11th March, 1828." 

"AUBURN ASSEMBLY. 

"The Managers give notice that the third Cotil- 
lion Party will be held at the Western Exchange on 
Thursday evening, January 29, 1830. Carriages will 
be in readiness at 5 o'clock p. m." 

These cards of a later date may not be without 
interest : 

'' DOCTOR PERES" COTILLION PARTY. 

"Y^'ouare respectfully invited to attend a Cotil- 
lion Party at the Western Exchange, iji Auburn, 
on Thursday next, at 7 o'clock p. m. 

"October 81, 1842. 

" Carriages in attendance at 7 p. m." 

"W. B. SMITH'S 
"School and Polka Hop, 



192 THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 

''THE LAST FOR THE SEASON, AT THE 

"AUBURN HOUSE SALOON. 

"Your company is respectfully requested at the 
Auburn House, on Monday evening, March 9, 1846, at 
6 o'clock. 

"I^^The Polka, Polka Quadrille and Love Chase 
Waltz, will be performed by a number of Mr. Smith's 
pupils, during the evening. 

"Auburn, March 2, 1846." 

The " Third Annual Ball of the Auburn Guards" 
is announced for January 22, 1847, at the Auburn 
House. 

Mr. A. M. Cobleigh announces that his Dancing- 
School will commence at the Auburn House Tuesday, 
November 7, 1848, and adds this modest note. 

"A. M. C, deeming it unnecessary to enter into 
particulars with regard to the advantages his school 
may possess, or dwell upon his own qualihcations as a 
Teacher, would simply refer those who may be desir- 
ous of patronizing, to his former friends. At the 
same time he would suggest, that a Teacher of Danc- 
ing should not confine his exertions merely to the 
movements of the feet, but should endeavor to give to 
his pupils that confidence and ease, with a graceful 
carriage of the body, so necessary for their intercourse 
with genteel society." 

I must not weary your patience with further detail 
of these particulars. Let us return to the ' 'American. ' ' 

The American Hotel was built in 1828-BO, upon the 
site of the old Willard Tavern. This tavern must have 
been built prior to 1810, as it doubtless is one of the 
four referred to by Dewitt Clinton in his letter descrip- 
tive of Auburn in that year. The hrst proprietor 
whom I have been able to trace was Watrous Pomroy, 



THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 193 

who took charge about 1810, and continued proprietor 
during the War of 1812-15. A recruiting officer was 
stationed here at this period. Mr. Pomroy was suc- 
ceeded by Zadoc Hall. The Inn though limited in ac- 
commodations, was popular with the traveling public 
and well known throughout the length of the Turn- 
pike. Loring and Eramory Willard owned the prop- 
erty for many years, Emmory being the proprietor, 
from whom it took the name of " Vv'illard's Tavern." 
Loring transferred his interest to Emmory in 1824, and 
in August, 1827, Emmory sold the property to Justus 
S. Glover, father of Mrs. C. H. Merriman, for $5000. 

In 1828, Isaac Sherwood, who was an innkeeper at 
Skaneateles, and his son John M., both of whom were 
interested in the important line of stages through this 
section, projected the American. The Willard Tavern 
building was removed to Clark street, where St. Mary' s 
church now stands. When that lot was purchased for 
the church, the old tavern building was removed to 
West Seymour street, opposite, but a few doors east 
of the present Seymour street or No. 5 School, where 
it is doing the duty of a double tenement house in the 
interest of Mr. Dennis O' Mara. 

The American was a ' ' four story ' ' stone building, 
nearly square, with two piazzas extending across the 
front and east sides, supported by columns of the 
Ionic order of architecture. The top of the second 
piazza afforded an uncovered i)romenade for the fourth 
story. A modest cuj^ola completed the architecture 
of the hip roof. The central entrance opened into the 
main hall ; on the left front was the Guest's Parlor or 
Reading Room, on the right the bar room. The 
Ladies' Parlor was on the second floor. The second 
and third floors were devoted to boarders and tran- 



194 THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 

sient guests, the fourth to servants, except that when 
the house was overcrowded, it was utilized for guests. 
The front hall opened into the Dining-room in the 
rear. The house stood well up from street. Stej^s led 
to the front entrance and another pair to the front 
entrance of the bar-room. In the southeast corner 
of the basement was the stage office, the realm of the 
dignified Consider Carter, in the palmy days of stag- 
ing. AVhen staging ceased, the office was transformed 
into a barber's shop. There was no "long room " or 
ball room, but a select few were occasionally granted 
the use of the dining room for a social hop. It will be 
seen at once that the American diifered materially 
from the old tavern. Its habitues marked the distinc- 
tion more forcibly. The magnates of the village, men 
of leisure in those slow-going days, sauntered up and 
seated themselves upon the verandah for social con 
verse. Judges holding courts and laAvyers from a dis- 
tance made it their headquarters. The style of the 
house, its appointments, the character of its guests, 
rendered the American rather forbidding to the mass- 
es. Of course its charges were higher, and it lacked 
the democratic element which characterized its com- 
peers and made them successful. I think the Ameri- 
can was never a pecuniarily profitable institution, 
after stage coach travel ceased, about the year 1842. 

In the papers of the day I find frequent notices of 
political caucuses, notices of foreclosure sale under 
mortgage, and other notices of transactions at the dif- 
ferent public houses of the city, but rarely one at the 
American. 

The house was quite a favorite place for boarding, 
especially with those who were disposed to pay liber- 
ally. I am told by a gentlemen who boarded there in 



THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 



195 



the early days of the hotel, that bottles of brandy 
were placed upon the dining table, at intervals of 
three or four feet, and that this was the uniform prac- 
tice in all first-class hotels of the day. Tlie bottles 
were rarely touched, however, except by a transient 

guest. 

The American Hotel was opened to the public on 
the first day of January, 1830, as appears from the 
following local in the Cayuga Republican of January 

6, 1830 : . 

" The new stone edifice recently erected m this vil- 
lage by the Messrs. Sherwoods, has been opened for 
company by the name of the American Hotel, under 
the superintendence of Mr. Thomas Notes, formerly 
of Rochester. On New Year's day by invitation 
many gentlemen visited the establishment and dined 
with Mr. Noyes. and in the evening several who had 
been detained by attendance at the Anti-Masonic Con- 
vention also went over, and were cordially received 
and entertained. All felt highly gratified at the 
politeness and hospitality of the host, and expressed 
many good wishes for the success of the estabhsh- 
ment, which is indeed a credit to our village. In short, 
we doubt whether any place in Western New York 
can boast of two more splendid and well kept public 
houses than the Western Exchange and the Amer- 
ican Hotel." 

I have not deemed it necessary for the purpose ot 
this paper to trace the different proprietors of the 
American down to the time of its dissolution. Joshua 
Jones succeeded Noyes. Wm. B. Wood was an early 
proprietor and was succeeded by William Gamble m 
1846, who adds to liis modest card "N. B. Pa.^sen- 
gers conveyed to and from the cars-FREE." I thmk 



196 THE 1UTRNINO OF TIIK f^T. JAMES. 

Jonas Wliite, Jr., succeeded him, and after White 
came Benjamin Ashby, who was the irate projector of 
Alvah Rude from the front steps, on the day of the 
Kossuth reception. Hiram L. Swift was proprietor in 
1864. 

When purchased by Mr. Sliimer about 1870, it wah 
unoccupied. The hist proprietor, Mr. S. P. Chapman, 
who took it of Mr. Shimer, in 1870, struggled hard to 
restore the fading foi'tunes of the house, but in vain, 
and in 1879 he abandoned it in despair. From that 
time on, it remained untenanted as a hotel. The fur- 
niture, beds and bedding remained as if awaiting the 
coming of a new lord — but none came. Meantime the 
owner entered upon a series of architectural experi- 
ments, extending the front out flush with the street, 
and fitting up three stores therein. Unostentatiously 
and slowly, but persistently, the work went on, with 
the avowed determination of the architect that he 
" would run her clean through to Clark street." But, 
alas ! his ambition was checked before fruition. One 
dull, sombre afternoon in March, a dense smoke was 
seen issuing from the rear, which soon burst into flames. 
The elements seemed to regard the situation with 
complacence. The wind started up sufficiently to en- 
courage the flames, and then died down. Lest ad- 
joining property might suffer, a heavy rain set in, and 
continued until the fire had exhausted itself, and 
nothing but the blackened stone walls of the old 
American remained. 

The curious throng who had gathered to witness the 
holocaust, sought shelter in their homes from the 
drenching rain, and darkness closed down around the 
flickering flamelets, which seemed determined to en- 
joy to the utmost the last revel in the old Hotel. 



THE BURNING OF THE ST. JAMES. 197 

The "American" was no more. 

I can only justify myself in presenting to you a 
subject so apparently unimportant, upon the claim 
that the tavern of the past was an index of one phase 
of social life, peculiar to a past generation, which no 
longer exists. The slow going means of travel made 
frequent houses of entertainment a necessity. The 
more expeditious canal, followed swiftly by the hur- 
rying railroads, blighted forever the prospects of the 
tavern, and its doom was fixed. Scattered all over 
our county today may be seen these sleepy old monu- 
ments of a by-gone age, some hastening to decay, 
weather-beaten, neglected, solitary — others transform- 
ed into pleasant, rural homes, not one of them a tav- 
ern as of old. Were the proud stage-coach of three- 
quarters of a century ago to come rattling over the 
Gfenesee turnpike to the Auburn of today, the passen- 
gers would find no vestige of the hospitable inns they 
were wont to see, unless possibly some might recog- 
nize the old Parmelee Tavern in the home-like Nation- 
al Hotel. 

In closing, I would extend my thanks to the old 
residents who have so patiently submitted to my in- 
quisition, and have racked their memories foi' facts 
and incidents which have given to my narrative what- 
ever interest mav be claimed for it. 



5.-'-i 



ih S '03 



